Eligibility age for National Bowel Screening Programme being lowered to 56 years

From 30 September 2026, the starting age for free bowel screening through the National Bowel Screening Programme (NBSP) will be lowered to 56, following a Budget 2026 announcement. This builds on last year's move to a starting age of 58 and represents a significant step forward — more than 200,000 additional people are expected to gain access to potentially lifesaving screening, with the change projected to prevent 638 cancers and save 522 lives over the next 25 years. The NBSP team is currently working through a safe and sustainable approach to implementing the lower age, and a key messages document with further information will be available shortly.

Practice management systems will be updated to reflect the new eligibility age range, and updated bowel screening resources will be developed and made available to general practice at no charge. When seeing patients, practices are encouraged to confirm that ethnicity and contact details are recorded accurately, and to check whether eligible patients have completed their two-yearly bowel screening. Kits can be ordered through your PMS, by emailing info@bowelscreening.health.nz, or by calling 0800 924 432 — including for patients whose kits have been lost, damaged, or expired.

Further information about bowel screening is available on Te Whatu Ora's website, or by contacting the National Bowel Screening Programme on 0800 924 432 or info@bowelscreening.health.nz.