Te Aho o Te Kahu, the Cancer Control Agency, is a departmental agency, reporting directly to the Minister of Health. Te Aho o Te Kahu was set up in December 2019 to better recognise the impact cancer has on the lives of New Zealanders, and provide a sharp focus on this important health issue.

Cancer presents some unique challenges to the health system:

• The number of people diagnosed with cancer is projected to double in the next two decades.
• The costs, complexity of care and pace of change present major challenges for our systems and services.
• Māori and Pacific people have worse cancer survival rates than other New Zealanders.
• Cancer survival is improving in NZ, but our rate of improvement is slower than other comparable countries, so we are at risk of falling behind.

The purpose of the Agency is to provide strong central leadership and oversight of cancer control. The Agency is equity-led, knowledge-driven, person and whānau-centred and outcomes-focused, taking a whole-of-system approach to preventing and managing cancer.

Te Aho o Te Kahu Vision

Fewer cancers. Kia whakaiti iho te mate pukupuku.

Better survival. Kia runga noa ake te mataora.

Equity for all. Kia taurite ngā huanga.

The Agency includes four regional hubs: Northern, Te Manawa Taki, Central and Southern (formerly the Regional Cancer Networks). The hubs provide ‘on the ground’ support to delivering more equitable cancer care across the country, and are also the Agency’s point of connection to the district and regional hospitals and services under Te Whatu Ora, and those delivering cancer care.