At present, 60 per cent of patients were treated within this timeframe. The target was met with tentative praise from cancer support groups, but also big questions about how it would be achieved.
Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Ian Powell said the cancer specialist workforce was already stretched.
Cancer Society chief executive Claire Austin said the three-year plan was "very aspirational" and provided few details of how the goals would be met.
A Ministry of Health report published in June said New Zealand struggled to retain radiation cancer specialists and medical physicists. The ministry predicted a shortage of seven radiation oncologists, 30 medical physicists and 25 radiation therapists by 2022.
Dr Coleman said it was a "tough target" and capacity in the health service would be one of the key issues in reaching it.
He was satisfied with the rate at which New Zealand was training new specialists, and said specialised nurses were now capable of screening for bowel cancer.
Bowel cancer will make up a large portion of the cancer bill in the next decade and it is one area where lobby groups feel immediate, widespread screening could quickly cut cancer rates.
Dr Coleman reiterated yesterday that the Government would wait on the results of a trial at Waitemata District Health Board before deciding whether to commit to a national programme. The results were expected in late 2016 and in the meantime the workforce was steadily being increased.
In releasing the three-year cancer plan, the minister said patients faced an eight-week wait for radiology treatment in 2008 and 750 people a year had to be treated in Australia.
In 2010, Government set a target of every patient getting radiotherapy or chemotherapy within four weeks - a target which was met within two years.
The new target was much broader. A patient would have to go through the "whole treatment pathway" from referral to testing to the start of treatment within two months.
Little detail was given on how the target would be reached. The plan outlined a small amount of new spending and no new policy, but reiterated existing measures such as cutting smoking rates and alcohol consumption.
On top of the $500 million spent on cancer diagnosis and treatment, $11 million would be invested in helping DHBs speed up treatment times.
Q & A
What is the new cancer target?
All patients with a high suspicion of cancer will get their first treatment within 62 days of referral by 2018. At present, 60-65 per cent of people are treated within this timeframe.
How does it differ from past targets?
Previously all patients were to get radiotherapy or chemotherapy within four weeks. The new target will mean patients get faster access to all services including surgery, diagnostic tests and radiotherapy.
Why is a new target being created?
Cancer rates are expected to increase in the next seven years as a result of a larger ageing population. The current cost of detecting and treating cancer is $500 million and this is expected to increase by 20 per cent by 2021.
How many people are killed by cancer in New Zealand each year?
In 2010, 8593 people were killed by cancer - about a third of all recorded deaths in New Zealand. About 21,500 were diagnosed with cancer each year, most commonly bowel cancer and prostate cancer.
