Live UV index · New Zealand
Today's UV, live
Check before you head out. New Zealand's sun is harsher than almost anywhere.
Low
UV is low. Stay sun smart whenever you're outdoors
Sun protection needed today 10:41am – 2:47pm
Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, wrap on sunglasses.
- Today3.3Moderate
- Sun, 20 Sept4.1Moderate
- Mon, 21 Sept4.3Moderate
- Tue, 22 Sept2.4Low
- Wed, 23 Sept4.2Moderate
Why it matters
Why New Zealand's sun is different
Thinner ozone, cleaner air and our closer summer distance to the sun combine to make New Zealand's UV among the strongest on Earth. On a clear summer day the index reaches extreme levels, and skin can burn in minutes, not hours.
#1
in the world
New Zealand and Australia have the highest rates of melanoma in the world.
40%
stronger
Peak summer UV here is around 40% higher than at the same latitudes up north (NIWA).
300+
deaths a year
Melanoma takes more than 300 New Zealanders every year, most of it caused by UV.
Protect your skin
Slip, slop, slap and wrap
Slip on clothing
Cover up with a long-sleeved shirt and collar. Fabric is the simplest barrier.
Slop on sunscreen
SPF30 or higher, broad-spectrum. Apply generously and reapply every two hours.
Slap on a hat
A broad-brimmed or bucket hat shades your face, ears and the back of your neck.
Wrap on sunglasses
Close-fitting, wrap-around sunglasses protect your eyes from UV all year round.
Protection is needed whenever the UV index is 3 or higher. Right across New Zealand that means September to April, and roughly 10am to 4pm, even when it's cloudy (SunSmart guidance).
Check your skin
Caught early, melanoma is treatable
Sun safety keeps damage from happening; regular checks catch what slips through. Get to know your own skin and watch for spots that are new, changing, or don't look like the others. If something stands out, have it checked. Early detection is what saves lives.
For your website
Put this on your site
Show the live New Zealand UV index for any centre on your own page. Pick a location and size, copy the snippet, and paste it into your HTML.
Free for schools, workplaces and community sites.
<script async src="/uv-embed.js" data-hb-uv data-location="auckland" data-size="small"></script>
Sun safety is workplace safety
Healthbox brings 30-minute head-to-toe SkinChecks onsite, with a skin cancer clinical nurse specialist. Early detection, no GP referral needed.
UV data: NIWA (niwa.co.nz) and currentuvindex.com