8th April 2026
About 2343 schools, around 95% of those eligible, have opted into the Government scheme, meaning roughly 98% of students can now access free products at school.
A nationwide rollout
The programme was introduced in 2021 and is delivered through the Ministry of Education.
Since then, more than 31.6 million period products have been distributed to schools across the country. The monthly cost of supplying the products ranges from about $131,000 to $237,000.
The initiative was designed to ensure students do not miss school because they cannot afford period products.
Why was the scheme introduced
The rollout followed earlier findings that some students were missing school due to a lack of access to period products.
A 2020 survey by KidsCan found that more than one in five students at lower-decile schools had missed school for this reason, with some missing multiple days each month.
Access still a barrier for some
Despite the high uptake, concerns remain about how accessible the products are within schools.
Youth health advocate Sue Bagshaw said embarrassment can prevent students from accessing products, particularly if they have to ask for them.
She said making products freely available in places like bathrooms could help reduce this barrier.
Calls to expand access
There are increasing calls to extend the scheme beyond schools.
Labour’s education spokesperson Ginny Anderson said that there is support for expanding access, including potentially into tertiary institutions.
Advocates have also suggested making products available through services such as food banks.
Government response
Education Minister Erica Stanford said funding for the programme has been secured, ensuring it will continue in schools.
However, she did not confirm whether it would be expanded further or extended beyond its current scope.
Ongoing discussion
While the scheme now reaches most students, discussion is continuing around how to improve access and whether it should go further.
The programme’s widespread uptake highlights its role in supporting students, but questions remain about how it could be expanded to reach more people in need.
