YOUR EX’s Oliver Hall talks to Body Positive Executive Director Mark Fisher about the organisation’s new sexual health clinic, Test’n’Treat, and how this community-first model is changing healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand.
It’s a sunny Thursday afternoon on Karangahape Road, and you’ve just turned onto Poynton Terrace to walk into a sexual health clinic. But this isn’t like any clinic you’ve been to before. There’s no harsh lighting. No receptionist giving side-eye. No form asking how many partners you’ve had. Instead, a friendly peer invites you to take a seat, grab a cuppa, and tells you the nurse is in.
This is Test’n’Treat, Aotearoa’s first peer-led sexual health clinic, and it might just be the future of STI care. Launched by long-standing community organisation Body Positive, the service offers rapid testing for common STIs, and in many cases, same-day treatment, all without appointments or judgement. It’s free, status-neutral, inclusive, and designed to feel like it belongs to the people it serves.
At the heart of the operation is Benji, a trained peer tester who guides clients through the process — from sample collection to delivering results. With clinical oversight from Auckland Sexual Health Services and backing from Te Whatu Ora – Health NZ, the clinic represents a powerful collaboration between community leadership and medical infrastructure. ‘Quietly revolutionary’ you might whisper.
A New Kind of Clinic
Body Positive CEO Mark Fisher describes Test’n’Treat as a “clinic that meets people where they are.” That means no judgement, no gatekeeping, and no clinical coldness.
“We’ve already seen strong engagement from people who may be hesitant to access traditional, clinical sexual health services,” he explains. “Many clients tell us they feel more comfortable testing in a community-led, peer-based environment that is non-judgemental, affirming, and safer.”
The clinic’s testing workflow is surprisingly simple. Clients check in on a tablet, collect their own swabs in a private bathroom, and then sit down with Benji for a one-on-one, status-neutral conversation. “That just means we don’t make assumptions,” Mark says. “It’s about care, not judgement.”
Clients can receive instant results for HIV, Hepatitis C and syphilis, while chlamydia and gonorrhoea are processed on-site by Benji using a GeneXpert machine, a compact lab-grade PCR platform that returns accurate results in about 90 minutes. If someone tests positive, they’re referred to the on-site nurse for immediate treatment — pills or injections included.
This “test and treat” model significantly shortens the time between diagnosis and care, a critical move in a country where STIs like syphilis are surging and delays can compound risk.
“1 in 4 of our clients have never had an STI test before”
While the technology is impressive, the soul of the clinic is Benji. More than a tester, he’s a listener, an educator, and often the first person a client speaks to about sex and health in a supportive setting.
“All of our staff have been trained to provide point-of-care testing,” Mark explains. “That includes hands-on training by Cepheid, who manufacture the GeneXpert machine. We work closely with Auckland Sexual Health for clinical oversight, and all of our positive samples are being retested — with 100% concordance so far.”
Benji guides clients through the testing process with warmth and discretion. For many, this is their first time ever getting tested. “Early data shows that 1 in 4 of our clients have never had an STI test before,” Mark says. “That’s huge. That means we’re reaching the people who’ve been left behind.”
Benji’s role also includes processing lab samples, delivering results, and offering counselling or next-step support. If treatment is needed, he transitions the client to the nurse. But if not, he might discuss PrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP, or vaccinations like Mpox — all of which are available onsite.
“It’s a one-stop shop for your sexual health needs,” Mark says. “We’re cold chain certified, we offer vaccinations, prevention, and testing — and it’s all free.”
Access, Equity, and K Rd
Though based in central Auckland, Test’n’Treat’s reach is wide — both physically and symbolically. It’s not just a clinic, it’s an invitation to rethink what sexual health care looks and feels like.
“We’ve been part of the K Rd community for over 30 years,” Mark says. “This clinic helps us reach more of our community — Rainbow people, sex workers, people living with HIV, migrants, people who’ve had poor experiences with healthcare before.”
Mark is candid about how stigma continues to block access to testing. “Over 50% of gay and bi men in Aotearoa aren’t out to their GP,” he says. “That’s a massive barrier. You can’t access care if you’re not even being seen.”
Test’n’Treat was created to address that. With its status-neutral, peer-based model, the clinic strips away shame, awkwardness, and power imbalances.
The service is also fully free, regardless of immigration status. “As we like to say: internationals get STIs too,” Mark laughs. “So everyone is welcome.”
To expand reach, Body Positive is also taking testing on the road — visiting places like CADS (Community Alcohol & Drug Services) in Manukau.
“Our goal is to complement, not replace existing sexual health services,” Mark says. “We are working in close collaboration with Auckland Sexual Health Services, who are providing clinical support… This peer-led model offers an alternative access point for people who may be reluctant to engage with conventional clinical environments.”
“We’ve already had interest from local GPs in collaborating, and we welcome opportunities to strengthen referral pathways and share resources across the sector,” he tells us.
What Success Looks Like
For Mark, success isn’t just numbers — though they’re watching those too. It’s about who walks through the door.
“We’ll know it’s working when people come back and bring their friends. When testing becomes normal. When stigma drops. When someone says, ‘This was the first time I felt safe getting tested.’”
Test’n’Treat is currently funded until June 2026, with an evaluation planned for next year. If successful, it could become a blueprint for peer-led care across Aotearoa.
“Ultimately, success means building a trusted, community-led service that improves access to sexual health care for those who need it most,” Mark tells us.
As for Benji, his job is more than collecting samples. It’s helping build a future where testing is no longer something to dread — but something you do because you care about yourself and your community.
