NEWS | PĀNUI

MEDIA RELEASE

6 March 2025

 

TE ORANGANUI VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE CHANGES IN BOWEL SCREENING PROGRAMME

 

On Thursday, the government announced changes to the national bowel screening programme. Te Oranganui Trust is clear that this move will cause Māori deaths and is a huge step backward in this priority health area.

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According to Bowel Cancer New Zealand, just over half of bowel cancers in Māori present before the age of 60 years (58% in females and 52% in males). The government's changes will discontinue the free screening programme for Māori and Pasifika from the age of 50.

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Te Oranganui have over the past 3 years actively advocated for the roll out of this evidence-based, equity-focused programme for our region, and were hugely disappointed when the intended roll out was stymied at the end of last year. The evidence from the three regions who have had the opportunity to participate since 2023 has been clear, that early detection will save lives, if caught early, bowel cancer is treatable. The screening age for those outside this target group, and outside of the pilot regions is currently 60 years old.

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“This is unacceptable and goes against what we know is the reality for whānau here in the wider Whanganui rohe, and across the motu. Locally, we have had champions within our iwi who have campaigned heavily to see the age lowered to reflect these alarming statistics. We have real examples of leaders like Esther Tinirau and Archie Hurunui, who were lost way too young to bowel cancer. To see all this work undone, to imagine the unnecessary loss of life as a result of this move, is heartbreaking,” said Te Oranganui Mātaiwhetu, Wheturangi Walsh Tapiata.

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The funding previously used for this initiative has been redirected and will be used to lower the free screening age to 58 years old across the board.

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"This is purely politics playing with the lives of our people. The reduction of two years, while a move in the right direction, is all about the optics of equality for all, which absolutely does nothing to address the real need for a lower screening age for Māori. This government is literally holding people’s lives in their hands.”

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Māori currently die, on average, 6 years earlier than their non-Māori counterparts. According to Life Expectancy in Aotearoa New Zealand, released by Te Whatu Ora in July 2024, 2.7 of those years can be attributed to preventable conditions. Te Oranganui urges the government to reconsider these changes and ensure that free, early intervention is an option for Māori who continue to experience inequitable health outcomes in relation to this disease.

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ENDS

Media contact: communications@teoranganui.co.nz