Sun danger at its highest

New Zealanders are being urged to take extra care over sun protection, because cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation (UVR) levels often reach extreme levels at this time of year. Richard McKenzie of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said: "UVR is strongest in New Zealand during the school holiday period - at exactly the time when people tend to be outside more than usual. Levels of UVR ... are at their highest between 11am and 4pm, and peak at around 1.30pm." He urged people wanting to get outside to wait until later in the day.