Wellingtonian children are at a high risk of sunburn, a new study has found, with a lack of shade sails in the capital city's playgrounds to blame.

Researchers say they're surprised to find there's little shade cover over Wellington playgrounds.

New Otago University research shows 95 percent of play equipment in 50 playgrounds surveyed has no shade cover.

Lead researcher Ryan Gage said more shade is urgently needed to protect children from UV rays.

He said that could include planting trees and building structures with large, protective roofing.

"We were surprised at the extent to which the playgrounds lacked shade. The Wellington playgrounds that we observed they had less than a quarter of the shade than Australian playgrounds."

The findings are particularly alarming when you consider New Zealanders are at the highest risk of melanoma skin cancer in the world.

Nearly 70,000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with, and 500 New Zealanders die of, skin cancer every year.

"Approximately 90 per cent of skin cancers are linked with excessive sun exposure.

"Providing effective shade in summer recreation spaces may help to reduce children's risk of skin cancer," Mr Gage said.

Wellington deputy mayor Jill Day said last year councillors agreed that when playgrounds are upgraded or built, shade is emphasised.

"That could be provided by trees near play spaces or there might be other options for shade or shelter of play equipment and other structures."

Cancer Society chief executive Mike Kernaghan said parents need to remember to slip, slop and slap when their children are playing this Summer.

"We need everything we can get, if we've got the highest incidents of melanoma in the world, we've got a problem and shade is one of the factors that will contribute to reducing the incidents."