Source: Prostate Cancer Foundation
October 6, 2026
The Prostate Cancer Foundation welcomes the National Party’s commitment to establish a prostate cancer screening pilot as an important step towards detecting the disease earlier and saving more lives.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among New Zealand men, with around 4,500 new cases and approximately 700 deaths each year.
Prostate Cancer Foundation chief executive Peter Dickens says a screening pilot has the potential to transform the way prostate cancer is detected in New Zealand.
“Too many men are diagnosed when their cancer is already advanced. Detecting prostate cancer earlier can give men more treatment options and, critically, a better chance of surviving their cancer.
“The Foundation has been campaigning for a prostate cancer screening pilot for three years, so we welcome National Party health spokesman Simeon Brown’s commitment to take this important step.
“Now we need to make sure the pilot is properly designed, adequately resourced and based on the best available evidence, with the clear objective of developing an effective nationwide screening programme.”
Dickens says prostate cancer screening should be a cross-party issue.
“New Zealand men should not have to wait for another election cycle for progress on prostate cancer screening.
“We have been engaging with political parties throughout our campaign, and it is encouraging that there appears to be broad support for testing a new approach to prostate cancer screening.
“We urge all political parties to support the pilot and, ultimately, the development of a national programme if the evidence demonstrates that it can save lives and deliver better outcomes for men.”
New Zealand already has organised national screening programmes for bowel, breast and cervical cancer, while a lung cancer screening pilot is also proposed. There is currently no organised national screening programme for prostate cancer.
Dickens says New Zealand can learn from international research and experience in developing its own approach.
“We should learn from the latest international evidence, including the lessons emerging from the large-scale European PRAISE-U programme, and develop a screening pathway that is right for New Zealand.
“A national programme will take time to develop, but today’s commitment provides an opportunity to start building the evidence, systems and capacity needed to make earlier detection of prostate cancer a reality.
“The Foundation looks forward to working constructively with whichever government is formed after the election to make this happen,” Dickens says.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation will continue to advocate for earlier detection, better treatment and improved survival for men with prostate cancer.