BreastScreen Aotearoa

BreastScreen Aotearoa offers free breast screening every two years for all eligible women aged 45 to 69.

For consumer information

If you are looking for information about having a mammogram, or need support to screen, visit our Health Information and Services website or phone 0800 270 200

The Ministry of Health established the national breast screening programme in December 1998 to provide screening for asymptomatic women.

Aim of the programme

The aim of BreastScreen Aotearoa is to reduce women's morbidity and mortality from breast cancer by identifying cancers at an early stage, allowing treatment to be commenced sooner than might otherwise have been possible.

The current coverage target is for 2-yearly screening of 70 percent of eligible women.

The programme is delivered throughout the country by 8 lead providers who provide services from around 35 fixed sites and 10 mobile screening units throughout the country. Of these providers, 6 are based within Te Whatu Ora’s Hospital and Specialist Services.

Providers are responsible for the screening pathway, up to referral for treatment.

In this section

Privacy statement for BreastScreen Aotearoa service providers

In operating BreastScreen Aotearoa, we take privacy matters and the protection of personal information seriously.
BreastScreen Aotearoa workforce

Information for health professionals who work in the BreastScreen Aotearoa programme.
BreastScreen Aotearoa publications and reports (goes to another website)

These publications and reports are available for download in PDF format.
BreastScreen Aotearoa programme monitoring reports

Programme monitoring is used by the National Screening Unit to assess how the BreastScreen Aotearoa programme is meeting its performance indicators and targets.
Breast screening coverage

Coverage is an important performance indicator for all those involved in BreastScreen Aotearoa at both regional and national levels.
BreastScreen Aotearoa policies and standards

All BreastScreen Aotearoa facilities have to meet the BreastScreen Aotearoa National Policy and Quality Standards (NPQS).
BreastScreen Aotearoa resources for health professionals

This page contains resources specifically designed for Health Professionals.
BreastScreen Aotearoa position statements

Addressing the harms of population breast screening.
BreastScreen Aotearoa Partnership Action and Equity Group

The BreastScreen Aotearoa (BSA) Partnership Action and Equity Group was formed in 2023 updating the previous advisory group which ran from 2003.