New research has found overwhelming public support for government-led action to prevent skin cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand – providing a strong public mandate for the direction set out in the Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Strategy 2024–2028.
A nationally representative survey of more than 1,600 New Zealand adults, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, found strong support for a range of skin cancer prevention measures, including government investment, stronger protection in schools, improved access to sunscreen and regulation of sunbeds and sunscreen products.
Nine in ten respondents (90.1%) supported government funding for a national SunSmart programme, while 91.5% supported funding for a SunSmart school programme. There was also strong support for mandatory sun-protection policies in schools (90.4%) and for the Education Review Office to check how schools protect students and staff from the sun (87.3%).
The findings show that New Zealanders see skin cancer prevention as a shared responsibility. More than 95% of respondents believed central and local government have at least some responsibility for reducing skin cancer, while 93.3% identified workplaces and employers as having a role. Schools and early childhood centres were most strongly identified, with 96.3% assigning them at least some level of responsibility.
Support for stronger measures extended beyond schools and government investment. Almost nine in ten respondents (89.1%) supported making sunscreen more affordable, while 80.7% supported regulating sunscreen as a therapeutic product and 72.5% supported banning commercial sunbed services.
Importantly, support for prevention policies was evident across voting-intention groups, suggesting that stronger action on skin cancer prevention is not a partisan issue.
Prevention as a shared responsibility
These findings reinforce a central principle of the Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Strategy 2024–2028: reducing the burden of skin cancer requires action at both an individual and population level.
People need the knowledge, resources and services to protect their skin and recognise changes early, but individual behaviour is also shaped by the environments in which people live, work, learn and play.
“People absolutely have a role to play in protecting their skin, but we cannot place the responsibility for preventing skin cancer on individuals alone,” says Skin Cancer NZ Chief Executive, Katrina Patterson.
“Our Strategy recognises that meaningful change requires coordinated action across government, communities, workplaces, schools and the health system. This research shows that the public understands that too.”
From public support to action
Skin Cancer NZ welcomes the recent Government and Cancer Society investment of $2 million in the SunSmart programme for 2026/27. However, sustained and coordinated action will be needed to achieve long-term reductions in skin cancer and address inequities in prevention and outcomes.
This new research strengthens the case for progressing the priorities already identified in the Strategy, including sustained investment in national prevention, stronger sun-protection measures in schools and early childhood settings, improved protection for outdoor workers, and creating environments that make sun protection easier and more accessible.
The evidence is clear. The public support is clear. Now we need to turn that support into sustained action.
Read the research in New Zealand Medical Journal
Public support for government-led skin cancer prevention in Aotearoa New Zealand: findings from a national survey
McNoe BM, Gray AR, Gage R, et al. New Zealand Medical Journal. 2026;139(1641):49–59.
Access to the full research paper requires a free NZMJ subscription.