The World Health Organisation says Australasia has the highest cancer rate in the world - with men most at risk.

It's estimated the risk of New Zealand men developing cancer before the age of 75 is just over 46 per cent.

Meanwhile the risk for women sits at about 33 percent

Cancer Society medical director Chris Jackson told Mike Hosking New Zealand has high rates of melanoma, prostate, breast and bowel cancer.

"The other alarming factor about these statistics is that it's projecting a 50 percent increase in people affected by cancer over the next 12 to 15 years which is a huge burden for our health system."

LISTEN ABOVE AS CHRIS JACKSON SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING