Upokongaro School achieved SunSmart status last week when Jane Beamsley from the Cancer Society visited the school to present them with a plaque, a certificate, a shade sail, a voucher for two shade trees and a 2.5 litre pack of sunscreen.
Ms Beamsley has been working with the school for the past year to assist them to meet the criteria for SunSmart status and said they have done well.
"Of the 65 schools in the region, 31 have sunsmart accreditation and now Upokongaro is one of them.
"You have a lot of shade from the trees around the school grounds, a shade sail over your swimming pool and you wear your hats - so well done" she said.
The SunSmart Schools Programme provides accreditation by the Cancer Society of NZ for New Zealand schools that have developed and implemented a sun protection policy for Terms 1 and 4.
The purpose of the programme is to promote comprehensive sun protection policies and practices in schools to reduce children's exposure to UV radiation and their risk of skin cancer.