Critiques of ‘mansplaining’ period products, the Destiny Church pride protests and the Director General of Health’s resignation w/ ACT's Simon Court: 17 February, 2025

ACT MP Simon Court has come under fire in the last few days for comments he made to a submitter in a select committee meeting about menstrual products. 

During a hearing on benefit sanctions a female submitter was outlining concerns about period poverty and the impacts menstrual products can have on a low-income family budget. 

In response to these concerns Court asked if she was aware of, or had people around her aware of, a menstrual cup - outlining its cost and where to buy it. He was heavily criticised by Te Pati Maori, and later Labour for ‘mansplaining’, calling his comments ‘deeply offensive’ as he doubled down. 

For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party Producer Evie spoke to Simon Court about these comments. They also spoke about the Destiny Church protest at Auckland Pride over the weekend, as well as the Director General of Health’s resignation, the third key health role resignation in recent weeks.