Cervical cancer, a largely preventable disease, remains a leading cause of cancer death among Pacific women. In parts of the Pacific, incidence rates are up to nine times higher than in Australasia. Now, a programme made possible through a NZ$5.1 million grant from the Matariki Fund will support locally led initiatives to prevent cervical cancer of women across the Pacific
Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa – Centre for Pacific and Global Health at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, is leading the initiatives together with its Pacific partners, supporting the rollout of safe initiatives across the Pacific that are proven to prevent cervical cancer and save lives. The program will run from 2026–2031.
The Matariki Fund is administered by Rt Hon Dame Jacinda Ardern, will begin with a focus on the Cook Islands and Niue before being scaled up across the region.
This new partnership enables a new Pacific-led and coordinated programme of work that:
- Increases HPV vaccination coverage to reach at least 90% of girls
- Expands access to cervical self-testing to achieve at least 70% of eligible women
- Facilitates timely diagnostics to enable treatment for pre-cancerous lesions and invasive cancer
- Establishes a coalition of Pacific women leaders to lead workforce and capability development, including digital and health system infrastructure
Cervical cancer can be prevented through HPV vaccination, regular screening and timely diagnosis and treatment. Yet access to these services remains uneven across the Pacific. This new investment provides a critical opportunity to align national programmes, regional partners, and women leaders around a common goal towards elimination.
The initiative will work alongside successful existing regional programmes, including the EPICC programme (funded by the Australian Government and the Minderoo Foundation) and the Polynesian Health Corridors (PHC), managed by the New Zealand Ministry of Health and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Together, these partnerships will help scale effective interventions, reduce duplication, and strengthen regional health systems.
Aligning with the WHO Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer the initiative aims to support countries to achieve the “90–70–90” targets by 2030 — a threshold at which elimination becomes possible. In practice, this means aiming to achieving 90% of girls aged 15 years receiving the HPV vaccine, 70% of women screened by age 35 years, and again at 45 years; and 90% of women with pre-cancer and invasive cancers treated.
Professor Sir Collin Tukuitonga, Co-Director of Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa, says the funding is a gamechanger for regional collaboration.
“Cervical cancer is preventable, yet too many Pacific women continue to die from it. This investment allows Pacific countries to work together — sharing expertise, strengthening systems, and supporting women leaders — to achieve elimination.”
Pacific women will be at the forefront of the initiative, working in partnership with Te Marae Ora (Cook Islands), the Niue Department of Health, and regional organisations.
Professor Judith McCool, Head of the School of Population Health and Co-Director of Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa, says the funding enables sustainable, system-level change.
“This grant allows us to move beyond isolated interventions to a truly collaborative, Pacific-led approach. By strengthening leadership, governance, and regional partnerships, we are building the foundations for long-term health equity.”
Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern says: “Pacific women are disproportionately affected by a disease that can be eliminated. There is such excellent leadership within the region - this funding is simply about supporting them to save lives with solutions that should be available to everyone.”
