Southern District Health Board cervical screening programme team leader Paula Parker said cervical smear tests provided early detection of cervical cancer, the most preventable cancer.
Each year, about 160 women in New Zealand developed cancer of the cervix and 60 women died. A smear test reduced a woman's risk of developing cervical cancer by more than 90%, Mrs Parker said.
The national cervical screening programme was designed for sexually active women between the age of 20 and 70.
Women younger than 20 should not have a smear test, she said.
''Younger women's cells are continually changing as they grow, so they might get an abnormal smear [result], which will right itself in due course.''
But older women should be tested every three years.
''Even if a woman has only been with one partner for all of her life, and has had her children, she still has to have her smear every three years.''
Smear tests were provided by GPs and practice nurses, Family Planning clinics, student health and sexual health clinics - for a cost.
But some clinics had reduced testing fees this month, Cervical Screening Awareness Month.
Women should contact their medical centre and ask if a discount was available.
The board provided a smear reminder service and women were encouraged to call 0800 729-729 to check when their next smear was due.
''Three years goes by quickly and you do forget.''
Screening programme adviser Wendi Raumati said smears saved lives.
Asian, Maori and Pacific Island women were being given priority in the programme and doctors and nurses were being asked to persuade more of their female patients to get a regular smear.
The board had set a target of 80% of eligible women to have had a smear by June next year.
In the Southern district, 59% of Maori women had been tested, 69% of Pacific women, about 60% of Asian women and more than 70% of other races, she said.
''There are 16,000 eligible women across the Southern district who have not been screened in the last three years. The majority of these women will be registered with a medical centre.''
