Researchers hope it's now easier for Maori to get tests to show whether they have a stomach cancer causing gene

Otago University professor Parry Guilford was part of the research team who discovered in 1997 a gene mutation that made people more likely to get stomach cancer.

He's now helped develop a new set of testing guidelines for it - which recommend any Maori person who gets stomach cancer is tested.

Guildford says for the Maori population - 13 percent of stomach cancer sufferers have the faulty gene - as opposed to three percent of non-Maori.

He says hundreds of people could be walking around - not realising they carry this deadly gene.