The Health Minister has lent his support to self swabbing smear tests - as has Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield, but the programme's still not getting off the ground.
Minister Kiri Allan has called on all women to prioritise getting a smear, after announcing she has stage three cervical cancer.
The government is being urged to fund a self-swabbing programme - that allows women the privacy and convenience of taking a simple test at home. It was due to be rolled out in 2018 but the government put it on ice.
Government ministers today acknowledged the value of the programme, but wouldn't say when or if they will fund it.
Louise Ternouth reports.
