Bowel screening starting age being lowered to 58

• Lowering the bowel screening starting age to 58 will take place in 2 stages. The first stage will begin in October 2025 in 2 Health NZ regions, and the second stage will begin in March 2026 in the remaining 2 regions. Which regions will go first is being confirmed.
• If you are turning 58, or are already 58, you do not need to do anything. You will be mailed your bowel screening kit around your next birthday or be contacted by a local health provider, once age extension is introduced in your area.
• People turning 60 will receive a kit around their birthday as part of the existing programme, whether or not the lower age range is available in their area yet.

Now is a great time to make sure we have your correct address, so that we send your bowel screening kit to the right place. If your address has changed, update the details with your GP, or email your new address to us at info@bowelscreening.health.nz. Please include your date of birth or National Health Index (NHI) number in your email.

If you would like to find out more about whether you are eligible for free bowel screening, or about joining the programme, email us on info@bowelscreening.health.nz or call us on 0800 924 432

Tairāwhiti and MidCentral districts are offering bowel screening from the ago of 50 for Māori and Pacific Peoples as part of a two-year learning pilot. They complete their pilots later in 2025. Waikato district completed its two-year pilot in December 2024.

If you are part of these pilots, you will continue to be invited for bowel screening (provided you remain eligible and still live in that district) until you turn 58 and join the wider programme. This includes people who received a kit but did not return it — you will continue to be invited.