Many experts are saying the age of eligibility for New Zealand's bowel screening programme should be lowered.

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world, and it kills over 1200 Kiwis each year.

A new study says cases picked up through the screening programme are 50 percent less likely to become fatal.

Co-author and Waikato Hospital colorectal surgeon Dr Jesse Fischer says there's 'indisputable' evidence that screening under-60s will save lives.

"Since the programme's been introduced, we've essentially been missing 20 percent of the cancers we could've been finding if we were screening from the age of 50."

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