PĀNUI
NEWS
Cervical Screening Awareness Month 2025
12 / 09 / 2025
September is Cervical Screening Awareness Month, a time to remind wāhine and people with a cervix about the importance of staying up to date with their screening. Cervical screening saves lives by picking up changes early, before they become more serious.
Changing the way we screen.
This month, the way screening is carried out is changing. From 12 September, the new HPV test will be introduced as the main screening tool in Aotearoa. HPV (human papillomavirus) is the virus that can cause cervical cancer, and testing for it is a stronger prevention tool than the smear test alone. The new HPV test also gives you more choice in how you’re screened. You can now collect your own sample with a simple self-test swab, ask your healthcare provider to take the swab for you, or continue with the traditional smear test.
To make sure as many people as possible can access screening, Te Whatu Ora is also introducing free services for key groups. From 12 September, screening will be free for those who have never had a test, are overdue (no test in the past five years), need follow-up or surveillance, as well as for Māori, Pasifika, and Community Services Card holders.
Our Wāhine ora service is leading the way this month with pop up clinics happening all across rural canterbury, especially in hakatere & springfield and also our fortnightly clinic at Te Aranga Health.
At He Waka Tapu’s Wāhine Ora service, our team of wāhine are here to support you through the process. We are dedicated to reducing barriers and helping wāhine protect their health and whakapapa. Our registered nurses specialise in cervical screening and make your comfort and safety a priority. We can provide flexible appointment times, home smear services or transport to your appointment, and even arrange follow-up bookings on your behalf. With the new self-testing option, you can choose to do the test at one of our clinics, in your own home, and at a time that works best for you.
If you’re unsure whether you’re due for a test, or if you’ve never been screened before, now is the time to take action. Screening is simple, it’s effective, and it could save your life.
This September, protect your health and your whakapapa. Reach out to our Wāhine Ora team today and let us awhi you through your cervical screening journey.
APPOINTMENTS AND REFERRALS
Accessing our Wāhine Ora service at He Waka Tapu is a simple and straightforward process, offering three convenient options. Firstly, individuals or can self-refer by filling out the below form or, emailing
Alternatively, external organisations can easily refer individuals through our online form below, or GPs through ERMS portal.
Appointment hours:
Monday-Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Alternatively there is a drop-in clinic at Te Aranga every Thursday from 1pm to 6:00pm
Additionally, our rural outreach pop up clinics via the dates below.
