Bowel cancer is one of the most treatable cancers when detected early, and screening is the key to finding it in time. In New Zealand, the National Bowel Screening Programme has shown that a FIT (faecal immunochemical test) can detect at least 7 out of 10 cancers that could be present. Whether you qualify for free bowel screening in NZ or choose to order a bowel cancer screening kit yourself, a simple test can help catch bowel cancer early, when it’s highly treatable.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- How bowel screening in NZ works
- Recent changes to the National Bowel Screening Programme
- Who qualifies for free bowel screening
- How to get a Smith Biomed at-home bowel cancer screening kit, whether you prefer to do your own test, don’t want to wait, or aren’t eligible
When Should You Start Bowel Screening?
Most people think bowel screening is only necessary after age 60, but symptoms or risk factors can develop earlier.
You should consider testing if you:
- Are aged 40+
- Have a family history of bowel cancer
- Experience changes in bowel habits (e.g., bleeding, unexplained weight loss, persistent abdominal pain)
- Want to stay on top of your health between national programme tests
Read our article: Why Early Detection Matters for Bowel Cancer
What Is Bowel Screening and Why Is It Important?
Bowel screening is a quick test that checks for traces of (occult) blood in your stool, a possible early sign of bowel cancer or other bowel conditions. Because bowel cancer often develops without symptoms in its early stages, regular screening is the best way to detect it before it becomes advanced.
In NZ, bowel screening is available through two main pathways:
- At-home screening kits: options like the Smith Biomed bowel screening test can be easily picked up from your local pharmacy or ordered online. This gives you the freedom to test when it suits you, without waiting to join the national programme or relying on eligibility criteria.
- The National Bowel Screening Programme: If you’re aged 60–74 and enrolled with a GP, you will receive a free test in the mail every two years.
Recent Changes to the National Bowel Screening Programme
From 2025, the starting age for the free National Bowel Screening Programme is being lowered from 60 to 58 years old.
- This change will make at least 122,000 more people eligible for screening in the first year.
- Screening is available up to age 74 for those eligible for publicly funded healthcare.
Special Pilots for Māori and Pacific Peoples
- Health NZ Tairāwhiti and MidCentral districts currently offer screening from age 50 for Māori and Pacific Peoples as part of a two-year learning pilot (running until late 2025).
- People in these pilots will continue to be invited for bowel screening until they turn 58, when they join the wider programme.
Who Qualifies for Free Bowel Screening in NZ Right Now?
- Aged 58 to 74 (age 50 for Māori and Pacific Peoples in pilot districts)
- Enrolled with a primary health organisation (PHO) (i.e., have a registered GP)
- Live in a region where the programme has been rolled out
Eligible people are automatically sent a test kit in the mail every two years.
Smith Biomed’s At-Home Bowel Screening Test
At Smith Biomed, we offer a reliable, affordable at-home bowel screening test that uses FIT (faecal immunochemical test) technology, the same type used in the National Bowel Screening Programme, to detect blood in your stool.
Our test is:
- Easy to use at home
- Clinically validated
- Available at local pharmacies across the country and
- Ideal for those aged 40+, or anyone with a family history of bowel cancer
Where to Buy the Smith Biomed Bowel Screening Test
Ask at your local pharmacy, or check online at Chemist Warehouse, Pharmacy Direct, or Zoom Pharmacy. With our tests stocked in more than 1,000 stores nationwide, it’s easy to take that essential first step toward early detection.
How the at-home bowel screening test works
- Ask for it at your local pharmacy: just request the Smith Biomed Bowel Screening Test by name.
- Take the kit home: no appointment or referral needed.
- Collect your sample: follow the simple instructions to add a small stool sample to the test cassette.
- Check your results: read your results after waiting 5 minutes.
- Follow up if needed: if your result is positive, see your doctor for further investigation.
Not sure what to expect? Watch our short video to see just how quick and simple the test is.
You can complete the test in the privacy of your own home, in just minutes, and with no need to visit a clinic beforehand.
Take Charge of Your Health Today
Bowel cancer is highly treatable when found early. If you’re not eligible for the free bowel screening programme or simply want to test between the two-year intervals, the Smith Biomed Bowel Screening Test gives you peace of mind.
For individuals: Ask your local pharmacy for the Smith Biomed Bowel Screening Test
For pharmacies & clinics: talk to us about making the Smith Biomed Bowel Screening Test available for your customers.