New Zealand to provide free cervical cancer screening for women aged 25-69

The New Zealand Government has announced that cervical cancer screening will be free for all eligible women aged 25 to 69, effective 1 March 2027. This move aims to remove financial barriers, as approximately 55% of eligible women currently pay for appointments ranging from $35 to over $100.

Women’s Minister Nicola Grigg stated that the change is expected to make an estimated 786,000 additional women eligible for free screening. The initiative is part of the New Zealand Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan 2026 to 2040, which seeks to eliminate the disease entirely through vaccination, early testing, and effective treatment.

Currently, free screening is limited to Māori and Pacific women aged 25 to 69, Community Services Card holders, and women who are overdue or have never been screened. The government noted that early detection is critical, as survival rates for cervical cancer are approximately 91% when found early, compared to 19% once the cancer has spread.