TL;DR: Key Takeaways
- ~4,000 New Zealanders diagnosed with melanoma annually
- Five-year survival >95% when caught at Stage I
- ABCDE rule remains the single most useful self-exam framework
- Acral melanoma (palms, soles, nails) is more common in Māori and Pasifika
- Monthly self-exam + annual professional check is the recommended cadence
The Numbers Every Kiwi Should Know
Melanoma is the third most common cancer in New Zealand. Around 4,000 new diagnoses each year and approximately 350 deaths. NZ's age-standardised incidence rate sits just behind Australia's, making it among the highest in the world. The reason: extreme UV (see our UV Index NZ guide), an outdoor culture, and a population with predominantly fair skin.
The ABCDE Rule — Adapted for NZ
The ABCDE rule is the global standard for self-checking moles. Here's how to apply it in practice:
- A — Asymmetry: one half of the mole doesn't match the other
- B — Border: edges are irregular, ragged, notched or blurred
- C — Colour: uneven colour, multiple shades, or unusual colours like pink, red, white, blue
- D — Diameter: larger than 6mm (about pencil eraser size), though early melanomas can be smaller
- E — Evolution: change in size, shape, colour, elevation, or new symptoms (bleeding, itching)
Read our full ABCDE visual guide with photo examples.
The Ugly Duckling Sign
Equally important: the "ugly duckling" — a mole that simply looks different from your other moles. Most people's moles share a family resemblance. Any mole that stands out as the odd one out deserves attention, even if it doesn't tick every ABCDE box.
Free AI screen for a single mole
Take a photo, get an instant AI analysis. Designed as a first step before paying for a clinic check.
Māori and Pasifika Considerations
Overall melanoma rates are lower in Māori and Pasifika populations than in NZ Europeans, but two important caveats:
- Acral melanoma (palms, soles, under fingernails and toenails) makes up a higher proportion of cases
- Acral melanoma is often missed because people don't think to check these areas
- Diagnosis is more often late-stage, contributing to worse outcomes
- Self-exam should always include hands, feet, and a careful look at nails for new dark streaks
Read our dedicated guides on melanoma on nails and skin checks for people of colour for the full picture.
How to Do a Monthly Self-Exam
Set a recurring monthly reminder. Use a well-lit room, a full-length mirror, and a hand mirror for hard-to-see areas. Take photos of any moles you're tracking — month-to-month comparison is far more powerful than memory. See our step-by-step self-exam guide for the full routine.
- Front and back of body in mirror; arms raised to check sides
- Forearms, upper arms, palms — including between fingers
- Back of legs, soles of feet, between toes — sit and use the hand mirror
- Scalp — use a comb to part hair in sections
- Genital area — easily missed but important
When to See a GP or MoleMap
- Any mole that meets one or more ABCDE criteria
- A new mole that appears after age 40
- A mole that bleeds, itches, ulcerates or won't heal
- An ugly duckling — any mole that stands out from your others
- A new pigmented streak under a nail
See our NZ mole check guide for GP fees, MoleMap pricing, and what ACC covers.
The Layered Approach That Saves Lives
The strategy that actually works in NZ's high-UV environment is layered: daily sun protection (use the safe sun exposure calculator), monthly self-exams (the melanoma vs benign mole guide covers what to look for), annual professional checks, and free AI screening between visits — see our AI vs dermatologist comparison for how the layers fit together. No single tool catches everything — but together they catch the vast majority of melanomas at the curable stage.