A Kiwi mother is petitioning the Government to provide free sunscreen for all children, after it was revealed that New Zealand has now overtaken Australian to boast the highest rate of invasive melanoma in the world.
A study by Queensland researchers found that New Zealand melanoma rates have almost doubled over the past three decades - from about 26 cases per 100,000 people in 1982 to about 50 cases per 100,000 people in 2011.
Skin cancer experts say the research should act as a "wake-up call" for the Government to spend more money on prevention initiatives.
Now concerned mother Karen Mowbray is petitioning Health Minister Jonathon Coleman to provide free sunscreen for every child.
Over a New Zealand summer, Ms Mowbray says she spends $17 a week on a bottle of SPF+50 sunscreen for her three young children, aged 2, 5 and 7