A new survey is raising alarm about barriers to care for sexually transmitted infections

Family Planning sought responses from more than a thousand respondents, 84 percent of whom were women and girls.

It shows 63 percent have never had a clinician recommend having an STI test -- unless they brought it up or had symptoms.

Director of Hauora Maori and Equity, Tania Huria , says that rises to 77 percent for 16 to 19-year-olds.

She says primary care guidelines recommend sexually active young people undergo testing annually, a message they want to push.