Melanoma NZ offers free spot checks at selected The Warehouse stores

New Zealanders with concerns about spots on their skin can have these checked for free this month at Melanoma New Zealand’s Spot Check Van visiting The Warehouse stores.

The Warehouse’s partnership with Melanoma New Zealand will see the van park up at six stores across Aotearoa during March. Anyone with concerns about sunspots on their skin can have up to three checked for free on the day by Melanoma New Zealand’s Nurse.

Melanoma New Zealand Chief Executive Andrea Newland says Aotearoa has the worst rate of melanoma in the world, with more than six-thousand New Zealanders diagnosed each year, and tragically around three-hundred New Zealanders will die from it annually.

“Melanoma is the most dangerous skin cancer, but the good news is that if it is caught and treated early enough, it is almost always curable,” says Newland.

Melanoma New Zealand is committed to educating New Zealanders about melanoma prevention, early detection and the importance of checking your skin regularly.

The Warehouse Communities Lead, Sarah Crisford says the partnership aims to bring awareness to the importance of melanoma prevention and hopes the initiative will encourage more Kiwis to have their moles checked regularly.

“Last year, we had someone share with us about how their visit to the Spot Check van in one of our carparks had saved their life, after melanoma was detected and it was able to be treated early.”

Attendees wanting to have a spot check will need to fill out a registration form on the day as limited spaces will be available. More information about the van visits can be found on the Melanoma New Zealand website.

In addition to free spot checks at selected locations, The Warehouse stores nationwide are also raising funds for Melanoma New Zealand through the sale of reusable bags, with all proceeds going towards the continuation of Melanoma New Zealand's vital work.

Melanoma New Zealand also recommends getting thorough and regular full body skin checks rather than relying on spot checks alone.

The free spot checks will be available in the carpark of the following stores:

• Saturday 5 March The Warehouse Tauranga 10am - 12pm
• Saturday 5 March The Warehouse Whakatane 2pm - 5pm
• Sunday 6 March The Warehouse Gisborne 10am - 4pm
• Monday 7 March The Warehouse Tokoroa 1:30 - 3pm