Parents are being urged to stay on their guard against sunburn as New Zealand enters a critical time for UV rays.
Niwa says this time of the year is an acute period in terms of ultraviolet radiation.
Principal radiation scientist Dr Richard McKenzie says that's despite the success of the Montreal protocol, an international truce to control the release of gases which lead to ozone depletion.
He says it will be a long time before any recovery of the ozone layer is seen.
McKenzie says the problem in New Zealand is that UV levels are around 40% higher than in the Northern Hemisphere.
He says the worst time to be in the sun is between 11am and 4pm.
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