March 20, 2025

Pictured: Health Minister, Simeon Brown. Credit: RNZ

Just over a week ago, a few days after meeting with us, Health Minister Simeon Brown announced the Bowel screening age would drop by two years from age 60 to age 58. 

At the time we said this advance for just over 100,000 people was only one tenth of the screening protection promised to a million kiwis by the prime minister as a ‘day one’ priority. 

There was worse to come.  This wasn’t 100,000 additional people covered.  It was a switch out of one group of people for another trading the protection of 100,000 Māori and Pasifika aged 50-58 by repurposing money allocated to them – a huge setback for equity. 

There were some measures to increase screening uptake for those over 58.  Barcoding screening kits so they can be given out by GPs, at health events, and by community outreach teams is welcome, as is the option to drop your completed test at your local laboratory collection centre, and funding for promotional campaigns to reach communities with low uptake.   These might reasonably be expected anyway, given the screening programme is far from the government’s target of 60% for Māori & Pasifika 

Last Friday new revelations emerged from within a stack of twelve documents – briefings and reports – relating to the cabinet’s decision running to 99 pages.  

Even having decided to renege on the commitment to Māori and Pacific communities for protection at age 50, there was still an option that would save 678 lives.  Screening Māori and Pasifika 2 years earlier than the general age of 58.   It was within budget.  And it was recommended, along with increasing screening uptake, in advice commissioned from world leading experts. 

And the government rejected it in favour of a one-size-fits-all screening age that neither officials nor experts, nor doctors favour.  An approach that saves 112 fewer lives over the next 25 years.  And all 112 of the additional families set to lose a loved one because this option was rejected are Māori and Pacific.   

Peter Huskinson, Bowel Cancer NZ’s chief executive shared the dismay expressed by doctors and community leaders,

“It’s deeply concerning that when presented with two affordable options the Minister has not chosen the one that would save more kiwi lives” 

So where now? 

When the prime minister came into office, New Zealand was ten years behind Australia’s screening age.  Under current plans he will complete his term 13 years behind.  That would be a catastrophic outcome, a broken promise that costs hundreds of lives. 

Interviewed by RNZ at the weekend, Health Minister Simeon Brown put his own credibility on the line to deliver on the prime minister’s pledge: 

“We will lower that age as we can, as quickly as we can.  We are committed to matching Australia.  The critical restriction to enable that is access to more colonoscopies.  As colonoscopy access increases we will continue to lower that age”   

With major changes in clinical practice set to free up more than enough capacity to match Australia’s screening age over the next year, how the minister seizes on the opportunity for bold action will be the acid test of his credentials.   Every day of delay means more lives lost. 

We will continue to playing our part in realising this vital change and not rest until all communities enjoy the full protection from bowel cancer that our neighbours across the Tasman already experience. 

Have you or a loved one been affected by a late bowel cancer diagnosis due to screening age limits? Your story matters—share it here https://bit.ly/share-your-BC-journey