Unlike Australia, sunscreen products can be sold in New Zealand without being tested for their advertised SPF rating because the sunscreen standard was voluntary. This isn’t a great situation for anyone except sunscreen makers, and everyday Kiwis have no ability to test the accuracy of what’s advertised. Based on this hole in the law, it’s left to organisations like Consumer to undertake SPF testing. Their recent report in November 2017 highlighted major shortfalls actual SPF vs. advertised SPF from brands like the Cancer Society and Banana Boat, among others. 
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There are many reasons why we can end up paying more than we’d like to on sunscreen, but primarily the issue is due to lack of competition and brand awareness. There are few known brands, and given the importance of sunscreen, Kiwis are unwilling to take a chance on anything that sounds a bit dodgy. This means brands like Nivea, Banana Boat and The Cancer Society dominate the market with prices $10+ per 100 ml or more for SPF30 products. Fortunately, entrants like Surf Life Saving and The Warehouse have sourced sunscreen, the Consumer New Zealand awarding these suppliers as the best sunscreens of 2017. At $2.25-$2.50 per 100ml (when purchased in a 1-litre container), they are also the best value available in New Zealand.  

Brands such as Nivea, Cancer Society, Le Tan, Skinnies and Cetaphil are well known but charge 5-15 times MORE for the same quantity. We believe this is due to the brands marketing them as luxury health products. Our Best Buys below disregard such brands even if their SPF testing checked out for the reason that we don't believe they offer value for money.
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Research suggests sunscreen has a shelf life of three years, but check the labels first. Store it out of the sun and in a cool place to ensure it says effective. If you keep it in your car (i.e. sauna), this can expedite the clumping and separation of the ingredients which limits how effective it will be. 
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​Generally accepted and followed New Zealand and American research suggests someone of average size and build will use approximately 25 ml to 35 ml of sunscreen per application, with an application lasting no longer than 2-3 hours even on cloudy days, and soon after swimming or sweating. Based on that, a family of four going to the beach for half a day could expect to use 180-300ml of sunscreen with two applications. 
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​As our best buy sunscreens demonstrate below, cheap sunscreen does not mean burned skin. Sunscreen is a commodity and many brands price it to the market they are targeting. Your $15 jumbo bottle from a supermarket may be more (or less) effective than a $40 50ml travel-size tube from an airport. 
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​A truly waterproof sunscreen is a myth – ignore the labels and reapply when you get out of the water.
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​It has never been proven. It certainly reduces the risk, but skin cancers can develop despite religious use of only sun protective clothing has a better effect. “Slip, slop, slap” only makes reference to one sunscreen (“slop”). 
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Both the Surf Life Savings Sunscreen and The Warehouse's Smart365 Sunscreen Lotion offer SPF50+ at a bargain price of around $2.50 per 100ml. 

Recommended by: Consumer New Zealand
SPF: 50+
Price and Size: $22.50 for 1 litre 
Price per 100 ml: $2.25
Expected applications (33.33 ml) per $10: ~13 
Buy from: Pharmacies, supermarkets and other retailers around the country

Recommended by: Consumer New Zealand
SPF: 50+
Price and Size: $25.00 for 1 litre 
Price per 100 ml: $2.50
Expected applications per $10: ~12
Buy from: The Warehouse