As thousands of people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, the return of the screening bus to rural Otago and Southland is a welcome sight.

The mobile breast screening unit is travelling to Clyde and will be there from March 5 to early June this year.

While the bus does its rounds, WellSouth will promote the service and support the community, particularly Māori, Pacific Island and rural people, to access the bus. 

Since October 2024, WellSouth has held a Screening Support Service contract with ScreenSouth Limited, who administer the national breast screening programmes Te Waipounamu (BreastScreen South and BreastScreen Otago Southland) for BreastScreen Aotearoa (BSA).

According to the Ministry of Health, Health and Independence Report 2024, each year approximately 3,600 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in Aotearoa, with Māori and Pacific Island women experiencing the highest rates of cancer. 

As at January 2026, 68.5% of Māori and 60.5% of Pacific peoples in Otago and Southland had been screened, this is up on previous years, but more work is to be done.

WellSouth equity delivery programme lead Jen Lowrey said Māori and Pacific Island people experience poorer health and treatment outcomes due to lower participation rates, access to screening services and follow up treatment.

“This means there are higher rates of cancer and as a result higher death rates in those communities. This is made worse with barriers including living rurally and in many cases the stigma associated with mammography screening,” she said.

“We are trying to break down those barriers starting with enrolling high needs women on to the programme, alongside education, information, and our dedicated call centre talking with and supporting women to get to clinics or the bus and get these important checks. Early detection, diagnosis and treatment can save lives and change communities who are losing loved ones.”

Screening mammography alone won’t prevent breast cancer, but evidence shows that regular screening does help with early detection. A free mammography is available every two years through the BSA programme.

Jen said that another focus has been growing partnerships with local Hauora Māori and Pacific Providers to support people to access their mammogram screening.

The free BreastScreen mammogram age group has recently been extended, with women aged 70 - 74 now eligible. 

The age extension will roll out and will be fully in place by the end of 2029 to include all women up to the age of 74. This change makes around 130,000 more women eligible every two years and is expected to improve early detection. Women who are eligible will be automatically identified through the new online breast screening system and will be sent a personalised link to enrol/re-enrol and to book a mammogram.

Facts from BreastScreen Otago Southland

• Māori and Pacific Island people have a significantly higher breast cancer incidence and mortality compared to non-Māori and non-Pacific and are almost twice as likely to die from breast cancer as non-Māori, non-Pacific.
• The aim of breast screening is to find very small cancers before a lump can be felt in the breast. Early treatment has the best chance of success.
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand women.
• While screening mammography cannot prevent breast cancer, international evidence shows that mammography, when delivered through an organised screening programme, can reduce mortality from breast cancer.
• The risk of breast cancer increases as you get older. Three-quarters of women who get it are over 50.

Eligibility

• Aged 45 to 69 years of age or qualify for the extended screening range up to 74.
• Have not had mammography within the previous 12 months.
• Not be pregnant.
• Do not have symptoms of breast cancer.
• If previously diagnosed with breast cancer, be at least five years post-diagnosis.
• Be eligible for public health services in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Mobile clinic dates are here.