BCITO And Dignity Join Forces To Support Women Apprentices In The Trades

Partnership brings free period products to construction sites across NZ

Wellington, 17 November 2025 - Nearly 1,000 women apprentices across Aotearoa now have access to free period products thanks to a new partnership between BCITO and Dignity NZ - a move designed to normalise conversations about period care in the trades and promote wellbeing.

Dignity NZ, a leading advocate for period equity in Aotearoa, and BCITO - New Zealand’s largest building and construction training provider, have partnered to provide sustainable period products through their Actions Speak Louder initiative. The initiative recognises and responds to the unique needs of tradeswomen, supporting inclusivity, wellbeing, and a stronger sense of belonging across the construction industry.

BCITO currently supports around 13,000 apprentices across 16 trades, including carpentry, joinery, painting, decorating and stonemasonry. Currently, women make up around 6% of BCITO’s apprenticeships.

Rotorua carpentry apprentice Sydney Gill says access to free period care addresses a simple but significant reality many women face on the job.

“When you’re out on site, especially in male-dominated environments, having your period can be stressful if you’re not prepared, and sometimes that’s completely out of your control,” she says.

“Before this, I’d never spoken to my employer about period products. It just felt too awkward. But it’s such a small thing that makes a huge difference. It’s great to see the industry finally normalising something that affects women at work every month.”

BCITO’s Principal Advisor Women, Amanda Williams, says the Dignity partnership represents a turning point for how the trades sector supports women.

“It moves beyond surface-level inclusion to address real, practical barriers,” she says. “It ensures apprentices don’t have to take time off work or face unnecessary stress because of something as basic as access to period products. Providing period products prioritises dignity, safety, and inclusive design to establish a new national standard”.

Dignity CEO Lisa Maathuis says the collaboration builds on growing momentum across the construction sector. They also work with Hawkins, which provides period care at its Domestic Jet Terminal project at Auckland Airport and Summerset Retirement Villages, which have worked with Dignity since 2022 to offer period care across all their offices, villages, and construction sites.

Sally Homer, Summerset's Head of Learning and Organisational Development, at Summerset says it’s an important part of their commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace.

“It’s important that our people feel comfortable and confident while at work, without having to worry about getting ‘caught short’; they value the products in our bathrooms, particularly on our construction sites, and we get feedback that having Dignity is a thoughtful touch in an often male-dominated environment.”

Maathuis adds, “We’re proud to see growing momentum across the sector and a real opportunity to make period care standard in every workplace, so that no one has to choose between comfort, dignity, and their career, whether they’re in a boardroom or on a building site”.

About Dignity

Founded in 2017, Dignity is a champion for period equity and education in Aotearoa, working to ensure that sustainable, organic cotton period products are available to everyone who needs them, so no one misses out on work, education, sports or any other opportunity. Dignity has worked alongside 140 corporate partners on a ‘buy one, give one’ basis; for every product available in a workplace for their employees, the same number is gifted to community organisations, with more than 1.4 million donated to those in need so far. For more information, visit www.dignitynz.com

About BCITO

The Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) is New Zealand’s leading training provider for the building and construction sector. We provide advocacy, resources and support for employers and apprentices, and oversee training for 16 trades across New Zealand. Through the BCITO Gateway programme in secondary schools, we also connect students with on-the-job training and employment pathways during their studies. Together, we’re building the people who build New Zealand.

Under the Actions Speak Louder initiative, BCITO has partnered with organisations such as Dignity, Hirepool, NZ Safety Blackwoods, Queens Workwear, Cleanline Tasman and TrainHer to provide free period products, sanitary bins and injury-prevention programmes along with discounted portaloos and women’s workwear.

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