What if STI testing didn’t start with a swab — but with a conversation?
That’s one of the quieter revolutions behind Test’n’Treat, New Zealand’s first peer-led sexual health clinic. While headlines have focused on the clinic’s speed (test today, get treated today), there’s another story unfolding in the rooms at Body Positive’s Auckland offices — one about trust, transformation, and what happens when communities get to lead their own care.
“We are trying to normalise sexual health testing and remove the stigma and fear that people have around accessing these services,” says Mark Fisher, Executive Director of Body Positive. “Would you come back and tell your friends? That’s what we ask. That’s how we’ll know it’s working.”
At the centre of that is Benji — a trained peer tester, not a clinician — who is often the first person a client interacts with. His role isn’t just about running tests. It’s about listening, explaining, and gently disrupting a long legacy of shame and judgment around sexual health.
“Early data indicates one in four of our clients have never had an STI test before,” Mark says. “That’s huge.”
The Peer Difference
So what’s different about a peer-led model?
Instead of sitting across from a stranger in a white coat, clients talk to someone who might have similar lived experiences. There’s no pressure. No performance. Just an invitation to speak freely, make informed choices, and maybe ask that one question you’ve been too afraid to ask your GP.
“It’s about care, not judgement,” Mark says. “We don’t make assumptions.”
And that shift — from compliance to consent — is bigger than it sounds, especially for groups who’ve been historically stigmatised, ignored, or treated with suspicion in clinical settings.
Making Prevention Easier to Access
While most clients walk in for STI testing, many leave with more than they expected: knowledge, clarity, and access to prevention tools they didn’t know were options.
“We offer PrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP, and Mpox vaccination — all available onsite,” Mark explains.
DoxyPEP in particular is still gaining visibility in New Zealand. The antibiotic is used preventively after sex to reduce the risk of bacterial STIs like chlamydia and syphilis. It’s an emerging tool in the HIV/STI prevention toolkit, and Test’n’Treat is one of the few places actively offering it.
“We’re cold chain certified, we’ve got clinical oversight, and we’re set up to offer these tools safely,” Mark says. “It’s a one-stop shop.”
Community Now, Community Later
While Test’n’Treat is making immediate health gains, Mark is thinking long-term — about systems, scale, and what kind of healthcare we want for the future.
“Our hope is that others will see this as an opportunity to do something similar for their communities,” he says. “This is a way for communities to lead and provide an alternative to overstretched clinical services.”
As the clinic moves into 2026, Body Positive will evaluate its outcomes: who it’s reaching, how it’s working, and what can be improved. But for now, the most meaningful metric is still the stories that walk back through the door.
“When someone comes in, says ‘This was easy,’ and tells their friends — that’s the real success,” Mark says.
