Free bowel screening is offered every 2 years to:
- People aged 60 to 74, living anywhere in the country
- Māori and Pacific Peoples aged 50 to 74 living in the Tairāwhiti or MidCentral areas
- Māori and Pacific Peoples living in the Waikato area who turned 50 on or before 4 December 2024, up to the age of 74
- People eligible for publicly funded health care.
Publicly funded health and disability — Health New Zealand (external link)
The starting age for bowel screening is being lowered to 58 for everyone. The first stage will begin in October 2025 in two Health NZ regions, and the second stage will begin in March 2026 in the remaining two regions.
Bowel screening starting age being lowered to 58 (internal link)