The Government and the Cancer Society will jointly invest $2 million to expand New Zealand’s SunSmart programme as part of efforts to reduce the country’s high rates of skin cancer and melanoma.
Health Minister Simeon Brown said Health New Zealand would contribute $1 million for the 2026/27 year, matched by another $1 million from the Cancer Society, to strengthen nationwide skin cancer prevention initiatives.
Brown said New Zealand continued to record some of the world’s highest skin cancer rates, with around 2,800 invasive melanoma cases diagnosed annually and about 90,000 non-melanoma skin cancers treated each year. Around 500 people die from skin cancers, including melanoma, every year.
The expanded SunSmart programme will promote prevention measures through nationwide education campaigns, digital content, posters, pamphlets and online resources encouraging people to “slip, slop, slap and wrap”. The campaign targets children and families, young adults and outdoor workers.
Planned initiatives include updated online resources, practical support for schools and communities, and the development of programmes aimed at helping outdoor workers with skin cancer prevention and early detection.
The funding follows repeated calls from the Cancer Society and health advocates for a more coordinated national approach to sun safety education across schools, workplaces and local communities.
Recent figures highlighted the scale of the issue, with nearly two-thirds of New Zealanders reporting at least one sunburn last summer, while more than a quarter experienced severe sunburn. Young adults were among the most affected groups.
Brown said sunburn remained a major risk factor for melanoma and other skin cancers, adding that prevention and early detection were critical components of the Government’s broader health and cancer strategy.
Image credit: Timon Studler
So taxpayers are paying 2 million for something everyone knows already.
Now we don’t want you getting that health beneficial vitamin D do we?
Most ingredients (and there’s a lot) from Cancer society’s sunblock are known carcinogens..it’s an easy thing to find online.
I’m fed up with the irony with institutions, commissions, boards, companies and charities ect. that literally do the exact opposite of what they say they do.
Experimental gene-based vaccines, toxic additives in highly processed supermarket and fast-food products, fluoride in water, toxic substances in sunscreen. The list goes on and on. But the sun is to blame for the rise in cancer cases. 🙈 Stop throwing your money down the throats of the pharmaceutical industry and its NGOs!
Wtf NZ is poor… aren’t we? That is why tax payers pay to breathe in this godforsaken dump! Now we pay for elderly cancer that has been around for EVER. How about the world class Medicare instead and start young. We certainly do not want to grow old in NZ what a shut show that would be.
They need all the votes they can get, how about lower food mate instead of worrying how much we are going to cost you as old people with cancer. Still not voting for national! Little too late for this. Backward parliament.