Free bowel cancer screening age lowered in selected regions

Saturday 4 October 2025 · 5 outlets · 5 reports · updated Sat 4 Oct 2025, 1:11pm

In this story Simeon Brown

Starting Monday, the free bowel cancer screening age will drop from 60 to 58 for residents in Auckland, Northland, and the South Island. Health Minister Simeon Brown stated this is a step towards matching Australia's screening age. The expansion is expected to allow 122,000 additional people to access home tests in the first year.

How they headlined it

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1. StuffSat 4 Oct 2025, 12:00pm

   Bowel cancer screening age lowered, but experts say it’s not far enough (opens in new tab)

2. RNZSat 4 Oct 2025, 12:18pm

   Government reveals which areas will have free bowel cancer screening age lowered first (opens in new tab)

3. NZ HeraldSat 4 Oct 2025, 12:21pm

   Bowel cancer screening age to be lowered to 58, home tests to be made available (opens in new tab)

4. Otago Daily TimesSat 4 Oct 2025, 12:39pm

   Govt lowers free screening age for bowel cancer (opens in new tab)

5. 1News via RNZSat 4 Oct 2025, 1:11pm

   Where the free bowel cancer screening age will be lowered first (opens in new tab)