The Cancer Society supports the World Health Organization global goal of eliminating cervical cancer through HPV vaccination, cervical screening, and early treatment.
Through vaccination, screening and treatment, we have the power to eliminate cervical cancer within our lifetime.
We're creating a book about the defeat of cervical cancer, in partnership with Te Tātai Hauora o Hine / National Centre for Women’s Health Research Aotearoa, Hei Āhuru Mōwai: Māori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa and Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
But the book is incomplete without you. We know how the story starts and how it should end. But it’s missing the middle – the part where the heroes save the day. We need heroes (like you!) to help end cervical cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Together, we can close the final chapter on cervical cancer. Become a hero of this story at endcervicalcancer.org.nz.
Cervical Cancer Elimination
New Zealand's government has signed up to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) initiative to eliminate cervical cancer by challenging countries to reach and maintain an incidence rate of below 4 per 100 000 women. It rests on three pillars and their corresponding goals:
- vaccination: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15;
- screening: 70% of women screened using a high-performance test by the age of 35, and again by the age of 45;
- treatment: 90% of women with pre-cancer treated and 90% of women with invasive cancer managed.
You can read more about this here.
Vaccination against HPV
Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination protects against high-risk types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer and a range of other head and neck and anogenital cancers.
It is safe, very effective and free for people aged 9 to 26 years. HPV vaccinations are provided to primary school-age children at participating schools. If children miss their vaccination in Year 8, vaccination is still available free through GPs and pharmacies until they turn 27. Find out more about the HPV vaccination here.
Cervical Screening
In 2023, HPV screening every five years became the new method for cervical screening in Aotearoa New Zealand. HPV testing is a better first screening test than the old smear test. From a vaginal swab, screening looks for presence of HPV, which causes cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer. Having HPV does not mean you have cancer. Find out more about cervical screening here.
