State of Ovarian Cancer Advocacy Campaign

Help advocate for change for wāhine with ovarian cancer in New Zealand

State of Ovarian Cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand

He kōrero mō te āhuatanga o te mate pukupuku kākano-ā-kopu ki Aotearoa

This report is shaped by the voices of wāhine living with ovarian cancer across Aotearoa. Grounded in lived experience, it highlights the barriers women face and the urgent need for faster diagnosis, fairer care, and meaningful change.

With an average of 306 women diagnosed each year, and one woman dying every 48 hours, ovarian cancer remains one of New Zealand’s most serious women’s health crises.

Now, we are asking our community to help turn the findings of this report into action.

The reality in Aotearoa

Nearly 1 in 2 ovarian cancer diagnoses in Aotearoa occur through emergency hospital admissions.

When ovarian cancer is diagnosed via the emergency department, one-year mortality increases from 17% to 42% compared to those diagnosed through primary care.

Earlier recognition and diagnosis are critical to improving survival outcomes for wāhine across Aotearoa.

This report brings together the voices of women and whānau, clinicians, researchers, advocates, GPs, and the wider New Zealand public to better understand where change is urgently needed, and what can be done to improve outcomes.

What's inside the report?

The State of Ovarian Cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand report explores:

Voices of wāhine and their whānau
Stories and insights from Aotearoa and overseas
Facts and misconceptions about ovarian cancer
Key themes and system-wide challenges
Actions that could transform outcomes
Final reflections from women and their families

Opening and closing with lived experience, the report centres around the voices of women facing ovarian cancer and those who love and support them.

The actions that can transform outcomes

Te anga whakamua

The report outlines practical, achievable actions that could significantly improve ovarian cancer outcomes in Aotearoa.

These include:

Reducing emergency diagnoses
- Improving symptom awareness
- supporting earlier access to diagnostic testing.
Improving data and tracking outcomes
- Developing an ovarian cancer register and addressing critical data gaps across the health system.
Identifying hereditary risk earlier
- Improving access to BRCA testing and developing systems to support families with hereditary cancer risk.
Addressing specialist workforce shortages
- Increasing investment in gynaecological oncology care across New Zealand.
Prioritising ovarian cancer clinical trials
- Ensuring women have access to innovative and potentially life-extending treatments.
Investing in ovarian cancer research
- Creating a coordinated national ovarian cancer research strategy and supporting initiatives such as a national biobank.
Including lived experience in decision-making
- Ensuring women, whānau, and advocacy organisations are part of service design, research, and policy development.
Improving access to medicines
- Increasing investment in modern ovarian cancer treatments and reducing delays in access.

How you can help create change

Advocacy matters.

When women, whānau and supporters share their experiences directly with decision-makers, it helps ensure ovarian cancer is impossible to ignore.

Whether you are living with ovarian cancer, supporting someone you love, or passionate about improving outcomes for future generations, your voice can make a difference.

Meet with your MP

One of the most powerful ways to advocate for change is by speaking directly with your local MP.

You do not need to be an expert. Your experience, perspective, and voice are enough.

There are a variety of ways to connect with your MP. Face to face is great, but a virtual meeting, speaking on the phone, or sending an email or letter are all just as valuable, and can be easier to fit into your day.

If you are aiming for a meeting, you can expect it to be scheduled to last around 10-15 minutes.

You can:

Share the report with your MP
Talk about the changes you want to see
Speak to the realities of ovarian cancer in Aotearoa
Advocate for better outcomes for women and whānau

Every conversation helps build momentum for change.

Watch our advocacy webinar

In June we hosted a webinar to share more about the report, our advocacy priorities, and how you can get involved.

Hosted by our CEO and Lived Experience Lead Facilitator, Liz Pennington, we covered:

Key findings from the report
The changes we are calling for
How to meet with your MP
Tips for sharing your story and advocating effectively
Advocacy resources and support available
The opportunity to ask questions

Advocacy resources

We have created resources to help you be informed, prepared, and confident when speaking with your MP or community. You can request an advocacy pack via the form below, or download resources now.

Resources include:

Please note that the full State of Ovarian Cancer in Aotearoa Report and webinar recording are available online only and are not included in physical advocacy packs.

Register interest and request an advocacy pack

Planning to meet with your MP?

Let us know through our expression of interest form and we can send you an advocacy pack and keep in touch throughout your advocacy journey.

This also helps us understand:

where meetings are taking place
what issues people are raising
opportunities to amplify stories and advocacy efforts
how we can best support you

Register interest and request an advocacy pack

Share your story

Stories have the power to create change.

We are interested in hearing from women and whānau who may be open to sharing their advocacy experiences through media, social media, or OCFNZ channels. Please reach out to us to share your story and hopes for change.

Together, we can ensure the voices of wāhine and their whānau are heard.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at office@ocfnz.org.nz.

Thank you for joining us in calling for change.

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