Bortezomib in combination with cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (CyBorD, is a well-established frontline chemotherapy regimen for patients with multiple myeloma, but prospective data on elderly non-transplant eligible patients is limited. A total of 155 patients aged 70 years or older with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who received at least one cycle of CyBorD chemotherapy in three centres across New Zealand were evaluated. Partial response or better was achieved in 794%, of whom 529% achieved at least a very good partial response. After a median follow-up of 319 months, the median event-free survival (EFS) was 170 months (age 70–80 years, 177 months; age above 80 years, 86 months; P = 0002). The median overall survival was 451 months (age 70–80, 498 months; above 80, 333 months; P = 0003). Amongst those who had seven or more cycles of treatment, those who had a pre-planned switch to bortezomib thalidomide-dexamethasone (VTD) consolidation had a superior median EFS of 254 months, compared with 203 months in the CyBorD only group (P = 0028). This is the largest real-world dataset on the efficacy of CyBorD in the elderly population, and pre-planned switch to VTD was associated with better outcomes.