Screening tests are used to prevent or find cancer early before you have any symptoms.
There are three national screening programmes in New Zealand. They are for breast, cervical and bowel cancer.
Breast and bowel screening programmes are free. Cervical screening is not fully funded - but is free for many people, as explained here.
Screening is checking your body before you have any symptoms. Getting screened regularly may help find breast, bowel and cervical cancers early, when treatment is more likely to work better.
Bowel and cervical screening can also prevent cancer by identifying and treating abnormal cell changes before they become cancer.
If you have any signs, symptoms or concerns, at any age, you should visit your doctor. Do not wait for your next screening test.
National screening programmes
Eligibility criteria for New Zealand’s screening programmes:
|
Screening programme |
Who is eligible for screening? |
Is it free? |
How often? |
|
Cervical screening |
Women (or people with a cervix) aged 25 to 69 years (and some 70 -to 74-year-olds) |
Partly funded. Free screening is available in many situations (find further information here) |
Every 5 years |
|
Breast screening |
Women (or people with breasts) aged 45 to 69 years (and some 70- to 74-year-olds) |
Yes |
Every 2 years |
|
Bowel screening |
Adults aged 58* to 74 years |
Yes |
Every 2 years |
*The age of eligibility is due to be lowered to 56 years, starting from 30 September 2026.
The government will be slowly rolling out the change as infrastructure and the workforce are improved. The government plans to further lower the age of eligibility in the future.
Who is screening for?
-
Cervical screening - anyone with a cervix. This could include women and transgender men or nonbinary people who were assigned the female gender at birth. This includes those who have had a hysterectomy where the cervix was not removed.
-
Breast screening (mammogram) - women, transgender men or nonbinary people assigned female at birth, who have not had an operation to remove the breasts. This can include people assigned male gender at birth who have taken feminising hormones. Find out more about screening in transgender patients at breastcancerfoundation.org.nz or by calling BreastScreen Aotearoa at 0800 270 200.
-
Bowel screening: everyone regardless of their gender.
Some people are at higher risk for breast, bowel or cervical cancer because of family history or some other reason. Talk to your doctor about your risk. You may need to have tests more often and from a younger age. Do not wait until you are eligible for the screening programme.
What about screening for prostate and skin cancers?
While there are no national screening programmes for prostate cancer or skin cancer, early detection is important. You can learn more about prostate checks and skin checks.