Bowel cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Aotearoa New Zealand, with more than 1,200 people dying from the disease each year, making it second only to lung cancer. 

Free government screening is one of our key policies aimed at combating the disease. Earlier this year, Health Minister Simeon Brown announced changes to the eligibility for screening. These included lowering the starting age from 60 to 58 years old while scrapping a pilot scheme that gave Pacifika and Māori earlier access from 50. These changes have sparked criticism about the inadequacy of the policy.

Producer Manny spoke with Associate Professor of Oncology at the University of Auckland, George Laking, about his views on these changes and whether we are doing enough to tackle bowel cancer.