UV index and sunburn time in New Zealand
Peak UV index and how quickly unprotected skin burns, for 20 cities in New Zealand.
| City | Peak UV | Category | Month | Burns after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 11.3 | Extreme | January | 21 min |
| Christchurch | 9.6 | Very high | January | 24 min |
| Wellington | 10.2 | Very high | January | 23 min |
| Manukau City | 11.3 | Extreme | January | 21 min |
| Hamilton | 11.1 | Extreme | January | 21 min |
| Tauranga | 11.1 | Extreme | January | 21 min |
| Dunedin | 8.9 | Very high | January | 26 min |
| Lower Hutt | 10.2 | Very high | January | 23 min |
| Palmerston North | 10.4 | Very high | January | 22 min |
| New Plymouth | 10.7 | Very high | January | 22 min |
| Hastings | 10.6 | Very high | January | 22 min |
| Napier | 10.6 | Very high | January | 22 min |
| Rotorua | 11.2 | Extreme | January | 21 min |
| Porirua | 10.2 | Very high | January | 23 min |
| Invercargill | 8.7 | Very high | December | 27 min |
| Papatoetoe | 11.2 | Extreme | January | 21 min |
| Nelson | 10.1 | Very high | January | 23 min |
| Whangarei | 11.5 | Extreme | January | 20 min |
| Whanganui | 10.5 | Very high | January | 22 min |
| Upper Hutt | 10.2 | Very high | January | 23 min |
The same UV also drives vitamin D synthesis — and stops entirely for part of the year at higher latitudes. Vitamin D winters in New Zealand →
Burn times are for skin type III with no sunscreen. How these are calculated