Whangarei schools on sun protection alert

Schools in Northland, which has the highest rates of melanoma in New Zealand, are spending thousands on the prevention of skin cancer.

A study earlier this year found that 59 in every 100,000 Northlanders of European origin reported having melanoma, the worst form of skin cancer.

Morningside School principal Wes Hopgood said the school had recently built a $15,000 shaded area over the playground, used competitions to encourage hat wearing and supplied sun block.

The school had discussed making hat-wearing compulsory but had decided education was a better option.