National Cervical Screening Programme
Screening eligibility and funding – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
The National Cervical Screening Programme was established in 1990 to reduce cervical cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The programme aims to:
- Detect human papillomavirus (HPV) and treat pre-cancerous cell changes early
- Reduce the number of people who develop or die from cervical cancer
- Support equity in access and outcomes along the cervical screening pathway
- Work towards eliminating cervical cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Who should be screened?
People should be encouraged to participate in the NCSP if they are a wāhine/woman, or a person with a cervix, aged 25 – 69 who:
- Has ever had intimate skin-to-skin contact or any sexual activity (even if they haven’t been sexually active for a long time)
- Has only had non-penetrative sex (i.e. oral sex, sharing sex toys)
- Is straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer
- Is transgender, gender diverse, or non-binary, and has a cervix
- Has only been with one sexual partner
- Has had the HPV vaccination or not
- Is pregnant or has had a baby
- Has been through menopause
Who is eligible for free screening?
Māori, Pacific peoples, and CSC holders are eligible for free screening, as well as unscreened and underscreened people. Follow-up testing is also free for everyone. If you are unsure, talk to your screening provider to see if you are eligible for free screening.