Cancer Society New Zealand has welcomed the release of the New Zealand Cancer Action Plan 2026–2029 by Te Aho o Te Kahu, the Cancer Control Agency, saying it contains many positive initiatives but does not yet match the scale of the cancer challenge facing the country.
"There are many encouraging elements in this Plan, and we welcome the progress that has been made," says Cancer Society New Zealand Chief Executive Nicola Coom.
"We support the focus on cervical cancer elimination, skin cancer prevention, genomics, diagnostics, screening, earlier diagnosis and precision medicine."
Cancer Society particularly welcomes the commitment to developing a national cervical cancer elimination plan, the identified partnership opportunity to expand SunSmart, progress towards a national lung cancer screening programme, and the recognition of the important role cancer navigation plays in helping people and whānau navigate their cancer journey.
"We are also pleased to see a commitment to increasing participation in clinical trials. This is an area where New Zealand has an opportunity to do much better, and ensuring more people can participate in research, regardless of where they live, has the potential to significantly improve outcomes over time," Ms Coom says.
However, Ms Coom says that while the Plan provides a sensible and pragmatic foundation and consolidates many important initiatives already underway, it does not match the scale of the challenge facing New Zealand.
"Cancer is the leading cause of death in New Zealand. Over the next 15–20 years we are expected to see diagnoses increase from around 30,000 to 45,000 each year, or from 80 diagnoses a day to 120. We need to ensure our level of ambition matches the scale of the challenge ahead."
"The Plan is safe, pragmatic and sensible. It reflects where our health system is today. However, it is less clear about where New Zealand wants to be in 20 years' time and how we intend to respond to the growing burden of cancer."
Cancer Society says the refreshed Plan is stronger on reviews, frameworks and system activities than it is on articulating a long-term vision for what New Zealand wants to achieve in cancer outcomes, and how impact will be measured and demonstrated.
"Cancer outcomes are not transformed within three-year planning cycles. Shifting the dial on cancer requires a sustained 20-year commitment, backed by investment, measurable targets and a clear ambition for what success looks like."
Cancer Society would like to see a longer-term ambition for cancer in New Zealand, including measurable national goals for improving survival, reducing inequities, increasing early diagnosis, expanding access to modern cancer medicines, strengthening prevention efforts and ensuring all New Zealanders benefit from research and innovation.
"There is an important difference between committing to plans and frameworks and committing to the outcomes we want to achieve as a country," Ms Coom says.
"We would like to see New Zealand articulate a longer-term cancer ambition that looks beyond electoral cycles, sets measurable national goals and clearly defines the outcomes we are striving for over the next 20 years.
"Overall, this Plan provides an important foundation. The next step is to define where we want to be as a country and commit to getting there together."