The Government says money's holding them back from lowering the bowel cancer screening age further

The screening age drops to 58 in Northland, Auckland, and the South Island next week... with the rest of the North Island to follow next year.

Lowering the age to 45 was a National Party campaign promise, aimed at matching Australia.

But ACT Leader and Associate Health Minister David Seymour says that can't be done until the economy improves.

He says Australia has better access to medicine, and earlier screenings, because of their wealth.