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SunSmart

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand and we have the highest rates of melanoma skin cancer in the world.

The good news is that most melanoma skin cancers are preventable by reducing excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation via the sun or sunbeds. 

To encourage more SunSmart behaviours we work directly with the public, as well as sports and recreation organisations and councils.

 

Our goal - reduce the incidence and impact of skin cancer.

Nine facts about sun safety

  • The health care costs of skin cancer have been estimated at about $57 million per year.
  • Nearly 400 New Zealanders die every year from skin cancer (in 2008, 317deaths from melanoma and 108 from non-melanoma cancer).
  • New Zealand and Australia have the highest melanoma incidence rates in the world.
  • Skin cancer accounts for just over 80% of all new cancers.
  • Skin cancer costs the health system more to treat than any other form of cancer.
  • Skin cancers in New Zealand total about 67,000 compared to a total of 16,000 for all other new cancer registrations.
  • In 2010 melanoma was the third most common cancer registration site for men and women and was the most common cancer in men 20 to 44-years-old and in women 20 to 29-years-old.
  • It has been estimated that, for every death from skin cancer, an average of 17.4 potential years of life are lost.
  • On a positive note, melanoma rates for people under 40 appear to be levelling off, implying that sun safety programmes are beginning to work.

What does HSC do?Image - children at beach wearing hats, sunglasses,and protective clothing.

Our sun safety work increases:

  • individual knowledge, attitudes and behaviours that protect from excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation (from the sun and solaria)
  • environmental and policy support to protect people from excessive ultraviolet radiation, especially among local authorities (city, town and district councils), specific sporting organisations, and primary healthcare organisations
  • the quality and effectiveness of sun safety messages.

To achieve these, we work with media outlets (television, radio, print), councils, regional sports trusts and other sports organisations, community groups, and the skin cancer control sector to both support their work and help deliver consistent messages across the country.

Find out more

To find out more about our work in this area check out:

International research

IARC Working Group Solar and UV radiation report

Solar and ultraviolet radiation were considered by a previous International Agency for Research Centre (IARC) Working Group in 1992. Since that time, new data have become available. These have been incorporated into this Monograph and taken in to consideration in the present evaluation.

Read the Monograph...