By Josh Daniels
Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, was sworn into office in 2017 and has already had a remarkable list of accomplishments. She is the youngest ever Prime Minister of New Zealand, her COVID response has eradicated the virus from the country, she banned military-style semi-automatic weapons, and lead the Labour Party to achieve the best results of any political party since New Zealand switched to its current system of representation in 1996. Ardern has proved herself to be a remarkable leader and her most recent piece of legislation adds on to her incredible list of achievements: free period products will be provided to schools throughout New Zealand.
According to Ardern, one out of every twelve girls in New Zealand have been missing school due to period poverty. Child poverty has been a clear issue that she has been trying to fight against, and this is a massive step in that direction. The new legislation will now provide primary, intermediate, secondary, and kura (Maori-language immersion schools) free sanitary products for girls. The roughly 18 million dollar plan will go through 2024 and be a leap in the fight against child poverty. Not only will this move help the children of New Zealand, but it has been a breakthrough in destigmatizing menstruation.
New Zealand is not the only country to fight against period poverty. Scotland was the first country to provide free period products to public use in November of 2020, and last January, Britain passed legislation that provided free products to all state schools and colleges that has been extended into 2021. Ardern has put New Zealand next in line to take a big step against period poverty.
