From October 2025, BreastScreen Aotearoa will begin extending free breast screening to women up to age 74 (Nelson/Marlborough began as a pilot in 2024). The rollout will be phased in gradually (the age extension will begin with women in the two age groups of 70 and 74), with full implementation by 2029. Phasing in each age group over four years will enable breast screening and cancer treatment services to progressively meet the additional demand.
This is the first age extension in over 20 years and is expected to save an additional 22 lives each year through earlier detection and treatment.
A quick reference factsheet (PDF) has been developed to share this information. Any pātai, contact breastscreen.aotearoa@tewhatuora.govt.nz.
This week the Pinnacle Incorporated Executive Committee has written to Dr Ashley Bloomfield, Director-General of Health and Labour MPs across the Midland region asking them to reconsider lowering the screening age for Māori and Pacific people.
Read moreFurther to Te Whatu Ora AIR update communication, please note the ‘Evolution Immunisation Update - April 2025’ does not apply retrospectively to historical records. Practices should continue to follow their usual processes for managing changes to historical immunisation records—for example, where appropriate updating PCV10 to PCV13.
The national AIR team currently has a programme of work underway to explore technical solutions to better support this in the future.
The B4 School Check (B4SC) is a universal, comprehensive check for all four-year-old’s that includes height and weight, vision and hearing, immunisations, oral health, and behavioral and developmental components.
View detailsNational Cervical Screening Programme screening updates.