Get Spotted 2025 Winner – Melanoma New Zealand X Lidgard Shades

We are proud to share the winner of Get Spotted 2025 with national charity Melanoma New Zealand 

Get Spotted is a fun colouring in competition designed to engage tamarki and staff about being sun smart. Seeking shade is one of the five preventative methods (SLIP, SLOP, SLAP, SEEK, SLIDE) for protecting your skin from the sun.  

The 2025 colouring artwork was designed by New Zealand-based Japanese pop artist Jun Arita. Which carried a simple but important message, protect your skin from the sun.  

We received 1,331 entries from children across Aotearoa. The creativity, colour, and care shown in every entry was outstanding.  

The Get Spotted Winner of 2025 

Riley McKinlay, age 9 

St Patrick’s Primary School, Napier 

As soon as Riley found out there was a shade sail prize for a school, he said, “I have to do something big.” 

Two years ago, the junior school shade sail at St Patrick’s Primary School was stolen. Since then, students have had no shade over summer. Riley wanted to change that. 

Thanks to Riley’s winning entry, his school will receive a fully installed Lidgard Shade Sail, valued at approximately $20,000 plus GST. At Lidgard, we have been working closely with the school to customise the prize to suit their needs. The installation is taking place this month and includes three new shade sails fitted to the existing poles, along with new pole pads for added safety.  

Riley’s class will also receive a visit from the Get Spotted 2025 mascot, a visit from the Melanoma New Zealand Spot Check Van and Nurse Educator for staff, and a colour changing UV band for every child in the class. 

We look forward to working with St Patrick’s Primary School this month to bring this new shaded space to life. 

Why Get Spotted is Important

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, and New Zealand has one of the highest melanoma rates in the world. The good news is that many cases can be prevented. Simple habits like Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide make a real difference, especially when they start early. 

Teaching sun safety at a young age helps protect our tamariki now and reduces their risk later in life. Children spend a large part of their day outdoors at school, so having the right protection in place is imported. 

At Lidgard Shades, we know that well designed shade plays a key role in prevention. Shaded outdoor spaces help reduce direct UV exposure while children learn and play. Through Get Spotted, we support schools to create safer outdoor areas and help spread awareness about sun protection in a fun interactive way.

Thank You

We want to thank every student, teacher, and school who took part in Get Spotted 2025. Your support helps grow awareness around sun safety in communities across New Zealand. 

Congratulations again to Riley. Your creativity has made a real difference.