Beachgoers going sunsmart

Bay of Plenty's skin cancer rates are the highest in the country. Lisa Carrington and Julia Coates don't plan to add to them.

The sunsmart Ohope pair are regular beachgoers but they were careful to heed the warnings about the dangers of too much exposure to the sun when they went to watch this week's beach volleyball action.

Lisa, 16, said her parents regularly reminded her of the dangers of skin cancer.

"I am down the beach every day when I can and I always wear sunblock, hat and sunglasses. My parents are hard out on it. I have never been really sunburnt."

Julia, 15, said she wore 30+ sunscreen at the beach as well as a hat and sunglasses.

"I have never been badly burnt and I am always on the beach. We are reminded at school as well as at home," she said.

Waikato/Bay of plenty Cancer Society spokeswoman Margaret Robertson said although it was part of the Kiwi culture to be on the beach or at the lakes over summer, people needed to be smart about staying safe in the sun.

"Our clear skies, closeness to the sun and relatively low ozone amounts mean that the ultraviolet radiation which reaches New Zealand is particularly strong. It is damage from these rays that has led to New Zealand having one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world, resulting in the death of nearly 300 people every year.

"The large majority of these deaths are from melanoma."

She said people often thought that because it was overcast or cool they could not get sunburnt.

"That's even more dangerous because people spend long periods outdoors unprotected - and a tan will not protect from skin damage and the risk of skin cancer."

That didn't mean Kiwis needed to stay indoors but to remember to slip, slop, slap and wrap, said Mrs Robertson. She recommended using a broad-spectrum 30+ sunscreen re-applied regularly.

"Our best protection comes from combining all the options wherever possible. Some people believe that if they are wearing sunscreen then that is enough, but this isn't the case," Mrs Robertson said.

Those at the beach volleyball at Ohope over the past two days appeared to be being sunsmart.

Pro beach volleyball series director Dave Mee said the "slip, slop, slap" message was reiterated to both players and spectators.

"We have marquees and umbrellas up around the courts for the players whenever they have a break and we give them all 30+ sunscreen which we have them put on throughout the day."

As for the skimpy outfits players were required to wear and which prompted criticism from sun safety promoters who said it was placing players at risk of skin cancer, Mr Mee said beach wear was comfortable playing gear.

"We find players prefer to play in standard beachwear. The females are more comfortable in bikinis than bike shorts as the shorts get sand inside them. In all the years we have been doing the tours we have never seen a sunburnt volleyballer. I think because they are out in the sun so much they are more conscious of its effects."