Bowel Screening Programme

What is the National Bowel Screening Programme

The National Bowel Screening Programme is free for people aged 60 to 74 years. It aims to save lives by finding bowel cancer at an early stage when it can often be successfully treated. We estimate that in the first year of screening in Northland, with an eligible population of about 36,000 people:

• 18,000 will be invited to participate
• 540 will proceed to have a colonoscopy
• 41 will be found to have bowel cancer.

The earlier bowel cancer is diagnosed, the higher the chance of survival. People who are diagnosed with bowel cancer, and receive treatment when it is at an early stage, have a 90 percent chance of long term survival.

How the National Bowel Screening Programme works

People from the ages of 60-74 years old will receive their first invitation in the mail within two years of the programme starting in Northland.  Note: The Northland programme started 02 November 2021.

Click here for a quick guide on how the bowel screening programme works.

More Information

Further information on the programme is available on the Time to Screen website or by phoning the National Bowel Screening Programme on 0800 924 432. 

For information on bowel screening in te reo Māori, Cook Island Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Niuean, Hindi, Chinese and Korean - read more here.

If you have any disability, illness, or injury which may prevent you from doing the test or sending in your sample, please call 0800 924 432 to discuss a solution. If you have hearing difficulties email info@bowelscreening.health.nz.

Frequently asked questions