Gender and menstruation inclusion

 In March 2021, the Government announced they would be providing free period products to ākonga in all state and state-integrated primary, intermediate and secondary schools nationwide.

Ikura | Manaakitia te whare tangata – Period products in schools initiative aims to reduce barriers to access, improve wellbeing, reduce financial strain on families and whānau, promote positive gender norms and reduce stigmatisation of menstruation.

Now, Education Outdoors New Zealand (EONZ) has released a new resource which aims to tackle inequities experienced by people in outdoor environments, including while learning.

Going with the flow: Menstruation and rainbow-inclusive practices in the outdoors is a multimedia resource supporting people to better understand the needs of those who menstruate, including people from the Rainbow community. It has been designed for a wide audience, including teachers, outdoor leaders, sports coaches, parents, and most importantly, young people.

It includes an information book, a video series, and a series of lesson plans.

An important milestone

EONZ co-chair Sophie Watson says the resource marks an important milestone in the way we view and manage periods in the outdoors.

“We want all young people, and adults, to be included and valued in their outdoor participation. That means we need to change some aspects of outdoor culture and practice.

“Research shows that for some young people, managing their period in the outdoors can be a challenging and isolating experience. Some students have said they want their teachers and outdoor leaders to be more active in their support of menstruating students. Essentially, they’ve said ‘periods are a natural part of life, and we shouldn’t be ashamed of them. Instead, we need to be taught how to manage them properly’.”

Misinformation, and missing information, about periods, and about people who menstruate has a significant impact on how people are catered for during outdoor experiences.

The resource also includes information about cultural perceptions and practices of menstruation, Rainbow folks’ experiences, and practical tips and information on how people can manage their periods in the outdoors.

Sophie says feedback from teachers and students about the resource has been positive.

“This resource is for everyone, regardless of how a person identifies or whether they menstruate – we’ve been very intentional and clear about that. The more we understand the different ways people experience periods, and the difficulties people face when having them in the outdoors, the sooner we can build a more positive and supportive environment for everyone.
We all have a role to play in that culture shift.”

Period products phase two

This year, phase two of the period products initiative is being rolled out and dispenser units are currently being installed in schools and kura with a high number of people who menstruate.

Learning from both the trial and phase one, the Ministry of Education understands that students value choice in the type and size of product provided and how they get it, such as dispensers in bathrooms, ordering a bulk supply, or access via a trusted staff member.

The delivery model in this phase has therefore been refined so that schools and kura can order a variety of products to meet student needs, access educational resources and have product dispensers installed so that students can access products discreetly and have them available if they are caught unprepared.

To date, more than 2,060 schools and kura have opted-in to the initiative, representing approximately 96 percent of menstruators in all eligible schools. As of June 2022, schools have ordered more than six hundred thousand packs of period products. 

More information

Schools and kura are still able to opt-in to Ikura | Manaakitia te whare tangata – Period products in schools by completing the form at education.govt.nz.(external link)

For more information on the Going with the flow: Menstruation and rainbow-inclusive practices in the outdoors resource, visit EONZ.org.nz.(external link)