Kōkiri Marae, Lower Hutt

Uplifting whānau and restoring dignity through the cost-of-living crisis.

Kōkiri Marae is a vital pillar of the Wellington region, offering a wide range of health, wellbeing, and pātaka kai (food pantry) services. As the cost-of-living crisis intensifies, Kōkiri has seen an increased demand from working families forced to make “impossible choices” between buying food and purchasing basic hygiene essentials. During the 2025 holiday period alone, the marae anticipated a 75 percent jump in demand, distributing over 700 kai parcels to support families through what is often their most financially stressful time of year. Since 2022, Kōkiri has been a key community partner, ensuring that thousands of period care products reach those who need them most. By including a variety of period care options—including high-quality reusables—in their kai parcels, we help remove a consistent barrier to wellbeing and community participation. This partnership allows Kōkiri to provide practical relief that upholds the dignity of wāhine and their whānau across the region. 

People are going without essentials like period products because there’s simply nothing left in the budget. One woman with three daughters chose reusable options after having resorted to cutting up old towels to get by. That is the reality for many whānau, and the inclusion of period care makes a tangible difference.

Shelley Duffin, Sexual & Reproductive Health Promoter

Palmerston North, Women's Refuge, Manawatū

Supporting approximately 100 people each month, the Palmerston North Women’s Refuge provides a lifeline for women and children affected by family harm across the Manawatū region. Their mahi is extensive, covering crisis intervention, safe housing, and education-based healing programmes that foster connection and recovery. By operating a safe drop-in space at their office, the refuge ensures that wāhine can access help and essential resources in an environment that prioritises their safety and representation.

Our partnership ensures that discreet access to period products is one less barrier for women to navigate during a time of trauma and upheaval. By making products freely available in bathrooms and as part of food parcels, we support a sense of normalcy and comfort. Most importantly, having this essential need reliably covered through our “Buy-one, Give-one” modelallows the refuge team to focus their energy and resources on critical advocacy and crisis support.

The work that Dignity does has allowed us to support our wāhine and girls with just that, dignity. Living with family violence often means māmā putting their needs last, financial constraints that force you to choose between period products or food, and at times menstrual/health needs being used as a form of control. Being able to offer a variety of free period products to any wāhine that walks through our doors isn’t just a simple gesture, it’s the power to meet essential needs during a time of crisis. Thank you Dignity and partners, your contributions make a meaningful impact in our mahi.

Anri, Practice Lead Family Harm Team

Te Tahi Youth

Te Tahi Youth is a one-stop-shop offering health and wellbeing support to rangatahi in Ōtautahi, Christchurch. They offer medical, mental health and employment services all free of charge. With a vision to champion rangatahi, Te Tahi Youth provides holistic and non-judgemental support to help rangatahi to become the best versions of themselves. Te Tahi Youth has 500 patients registered at their clinic and also offers drop-in clinic services to the wider public.

Their premises includes a suite of clinical and counselling rooms, all designed to be welcoming and approachable. Dignity period products are available for people to access in the waiting area and in each of the consultation rooms.

At Te Tahi Youth, we see first hand the impact that free period products have on our rangatahi. Period poverty is a significant issue for many of our patients, especially those who lack stable home environments or caregivers to provide these essentials. We’ve also noticed a remarkable shift in the stigma surrounding periods. In the past, our wāhine were often embarrassed to discuss their periods or ask for products. Today, they openly talk about their needs and confidently take the products they see available in our clinics. This partnership is about more than just providing essentials - it’s about confidence, and creating a space where every young person feels supported and empowered.

Fiona Kay, General Manager

It Takes a Village Hub, NZ

It Takes a Village Hub provides bundles of quality new and used baby and toddler items to families in need in the Ōtautahi Christchurch area. The packs include clothing, toys and feeding items. Dignity period products are available as an optional item in these bundles. 90% of the items that go into the bundles are donated by the community. Once received, the team at It Takes a Village Hub then caringly sorts and cleans the items, creating bundles for babies and toddlers of different age ranges.

"Being able to provide free period products means so much to us because it’s about helping people with something essential. that shouldn’t be a struggle to get. Period poverty can really impact lives—whether it’s missing work or feeling like you can’t fully be part of daily life. The impact of giving out free period products in our community has been incredible. We see people feeling less stressed and more confident because they don’t have to worry about how they’ll manage their periods. It’s made a real difference for families struggling to make ends meet. For those who receive period underwear and menstrual cups, the impact is even bigger—it’s a long-term, sustainable solution that saves money and reduces waste. These reusable options provide a cost-effective way to manage periods and are better for the environment. It’s empowering to see how something so simple and accessible can make such a big difference in people’s lives."

Danielle Petterd, Director

Housing First Ōtautahi He Kāinga Ora ki Ōtautahi

Housing First Ōtautahi supports people experiencing long-term homelessness, with access to permanent housing and wrap-around support and services to promote wellbeing and recovery.

Housing First Ōtautahi’s services are inclusive and strengths-based, and use a harm reduction approach. 545 people have accessed their services and 374 individuals have been housed through the Housing First initiative, 90% of these in privately rented properties.

Amy, our Operations and Impact Manager joined the Housing First team in November at their community initiative called The Commons, a space where once a week people can come together to connect with others and get some kai along with other necessities like Dignity period products.

Whanake Youth

Whanake Youth provides a space in Stoke, Nelson where young people can hang out, connect and access support. They are open every day after school, and provide kai, social services and a drop in clinic with a nurse. They have an awesome outdoor area with a skate park, parkour park, basketball court and sheltered hang out area, all of which was built in consultation with the young people who use the space. Whanake Youth also provides outreach social services in schools in the Nelson region, including isolated rural areas.

The kaupapa of Whanake Youth is all about empowering young people and they offer a variety of workshops as well as a barista training program through their onsite coffee cart. Dignity period products are freely available for young people to access in the bathrooms at Whanake Youth and also through their outreach workers.

The kaupapa of Whanake Youth is all about empowering young people and they offer a variety of workshops as well as a barista training program through their onsite coffee cart. Dignity period products are freely available for young people to access in the bathrooms at Whanake Youth and also through their outreach workers.