From Monday, the age for free bowel screening in New Zealand will decrease from 60 to 58 in regions including Northland, Auckland, and the South Island. This initiative, announced by Health Minister Simeon Brown, is part of a broader strategy to reduce bowel cancer mortality rates in the country. The rest of the North Island is set to follow suit by March 2026.
“Earlier this year, I confirmed the Government’s commitment to lowering the bowel screening age to match Australia, so that fewer New Zealanders die from bowel cancer,” Mr. Brown stated. “The first step is lowering the eligibility age from 60 to 58. This means thousands more people will now have access to lifesaving testing, giving them the best chance of having bowel cancer detected early, when it can often be successfully treated.”
Impact and Projections
Lowering the starting age to 58 will make 122,000 people eligible for free screening in the first year alone. Over the next 25 years, this change is expected to prevent 771 cases of bowel cancer and save 566 lives.
“This is the first significant step towards aligning New Zealand’s screening age with Australia. Our goal is to bring the age down even further, and building colonoscopy capacity is key to achieving that,” Mr. Brown emphasized.
Residents in Northland, Auckland, and the South Island will be eligible for the lower starting age from Monday, with those in the central and lower North Island from March 2026. All newly eligible individuals nationwide will be invited for free screening by March 2027.
Introducing the FIT for Symptomatic Pathway
The Government is also rolling out a new nationwide pathway known as the FIT for Symptomatic test. This simple, non-invasive home test uses a stool sample to check for traces of blood, an early warning sign of bowel cancer. It allows anyone of any age with bowel cancer symptoms, referred to a specialist, to quickly assess their risk without needing to wait for a colonoscopy.
The FIT for Symptomatic pathway has already been launched in Waikato and will be introduced in Counties Manukau, Waitematā, and Hawke’s Bay over the next two months, before a nationwide rollout next year.
“This will free up specialist capacity by prioritising colonoscopies for those at highest risk and reducing unnecessary referrals, leading to shorter wait times, faster diagnoses, and more resources to expand screening,” Mr. Brown explained.
The FIT for Symptomatic pathway is expected to reduce colonoscopy referrals by 30 to 60 percent, significantly increasing capacity to support both symptomatic patients and the extended screening programme.
Expanding Diagnostic Capacity
To further increase capacity, the Government has recently announced a diagnostic uplift package that will deliver an additional 7,100 colonoscopies through to July 2026. This initiative aims to meet rising demand and ensure timely treatment.
In addition, $19 million is being invested in initiatives to boost screening rates among populations with historically low participation rates. This includes targeted promotional and engagement campaigns, new online resources to support conversations about screening, and making it easier to return test kits through community laboratories.
Future Goals and Expert Insights
Mr. Brown reiterated the Government’s commitment to further lowering the bowel screening starting age as quickly as possible, with Erasmus University undertaking modeling to support this goal.
“Bowel cancer is New Zealand’s second biggest cancer killer. By lowering the screening age, rolling out the FIT for Symptomatic pathway, expanding diagnostic capacity, and investing in targeted initiatives, we are taking action that will save hundreds of lives and prevent thousands of families from losing loved ones too soon,” he concluded.
The announcement comes as part of a broader health strategy to improve cancer detection and treatment across New Zealand, aligning with international standards and responding to public health needs. As these initiatives unfold, they promise to reshape the landscape of cancer care and prevention in the country, offering hope to many families affected by this disease.
