Bowel Cancer Atlas
An interactive data tool that maps bowel cancer rates, outcomes, and trends across Aotearoa New Zealand.
About the Atlas
The Bowel Cancer Atlas is an interactive resource that brings together data on bowel cancer incidence, mortality, staging, and survival across New Zealand. It was developed to make complex health data accessible to everyone – from researchers and clinicians to whānau.
The Atlas allows you to explore how bowel cancer affects different regions, age groups, ethnicities, and genders. By making this data visible, we can better understand where the gaps are and where resources are needed most.
Key findings
The data in the Atlas highlights important patterns in how bowel cancer affects New Zealanders.
Regional variation
Bowel cancer rates and outcomes vary significantly across New Zealand. Some regions have higher incidence rates, while others face poorer survival due to later-stage diagnosis or limited access to specialist care.
Ethnic disparities
Māori are more likely to be diagnosed with bowel cancer at a later stage and experience lower survival rates compared to non-Māori. Pacific peoples also face barriers to early diagnosis. Addressing these inequities is a priority.
Age trends
While bowel cancer remains most common in people over 60, rates among younger adults (under 50) are increasing in New Zealand and globally. This trend highlights the importance of being aware of symptoms at any age.
Stage at diagnosis matters
The data consistently shows that early detection dramatically improves outcomes. People diagnosed at Stage I have a five-year survival rate above 90%, compared to around 10–15% for Stage IV. The National Bowel Screening Programme is helping shift diagnoses to earlier stages.
Screening impact
Regions with established screening programmes are seeing a shift towards earlier-stage diagnoses. The nationwide rollout of the National Bowel Screening Programme is expected to reduce bowel cancer deaths over time.
How to use the Atlas
The Atlas is designed to be straightforward for anyone to use. You can:
- •View bowel cancer rates by district health board region
- •Filter data by age, gender, and ethnicity
- •Compare incidence and mortality trends over time
- •Explore stage-at-diagnosis data and survival outcomes
- •Download data for research or advocacy purposes
Whether you're a health professional, researcher, journalist, policy maker, or simply someone who wants to understand the data, the Atlas is a free, open resource.
Data drives change
The Atlas helps researchers, clinicians, and policy makers understand where bowel cancer is hitting hardest – so we can target resources where they're needed most.