Girls Togs NZ: Buying Swimwear in New Zealand

Jun 14, 2026 / Oct 5, 2026 · 6 min read · togs swimwear nz ·

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September to April: the togs months are the UV months

From September to April, New Zealand's SunSmart programme says UV radiation is "damaging to skin and eyes", "especially between 10am - 4pm". Those are also the months when girls' togs come out of the drawer for school swimming, the beach and the lake. So choosing togs for a girl in New Zealand is as much about sun protection as about style.

This guide uses SunSmart's advice and Consumer NZ's sun-protection clothing guide to cover what to buy, how it should fit, how to make it last, and where to shop. In New Zealand "togs" simply means swimwear; in Britain a "tog" is a duvet warmth rating, as our guide to what togs means explains.

Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap

New Zealand had its own version of the famous sun-safety rhyme. Wikipedia records that the Australian campaign, launched by Cancer Council Victoria in 1981, was adapted in New Zealand as "Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap", with "a tiger prawn named Tiger" as the mascot. The "wrap" meant wraparound sunglasses.

It is still the national message in 2026. On 30 April 2026, Health Minister Simeon Brown announced in a government release that Health New Zealand and the Cancer Society would each invest $1 million to expand SunSmart, which "promotes simple, effective behaviours – slip, slop, slap and wrap" with "a focus on children and families, young adults, and outdoor workers." The release gives the reason: "Each year, around 2,800 invasive melanomas are diagnosed, and an estimated 90,000 non-melanoma skin cancers are treated. Around 500 New Zealanders die from skin cancers, including melanoma, each year."

SunSmart's advice today has five steps: "Slip on clothing", "Slip into shade", "Slop on sunscreen", "Slap on a hat" and "Wrap on sunglasses." Togs and rash shirts are the first step. SunSmart also warns that you can "still get sunburnt on cool and cloudy days", because cool weather means less heat, "but not necessarily less UV radiation."

SunSmart adds that in New Zealand you should "always protect skin and eyes between 10am - 4pm from September to April, or all year-round when you're in the mountains, on the water, or around snow and ice." It points families to the free UVNZ app, which gives UV forecasts for locations across the country.

Sunscreen and babies

Togs and rash shirts cover only part of the skin, so sunscreen does the rest. The Cancer Society's SunSmart page advises a "broad-spectrum, water-resistant, sunscreen of at least SPF 30" with "the AS/NZ 2604 standard" on the label, applied "20 minutes before you go outdoors" and reapplied "every two hours or after being in water or sweating."

For babies, it says to "keep them out of direct sunlight", protecting them with "shade, clothing and broad-brimmed hats." Sunscreen "should only be used on small areas of a baby's skin", should be labelled for sensitive skin or children, and should be patch-tested on the inside of the forearm first.

Why togs alone are not sun protection

Consumer NZ makes a point many parents miss. A garment can only claim a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) rating if it covers enough skin: "up to the neckline", "the torso", "three-quarters of the way down the upper arm", and "half-way between the crotch and knee." It concludes: "a UPF claim shouldn't be made on clothing such as bikinis, togs, singlets and crop tops."

So for a long day outdoors, a girl's togs need help from something with more coverage: a rash shirt, a long-sleeved swim top, or a sun-suit. Consumer NZ's ratings guide:

UPF rating	Consumer NZ
UPF 15	Minimum protection
UPF 30	Good protection
UPF 50 / 50+	Excellent protection

It also advises checking that sun-protection clothing complies with "the Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 4399:2017 or Australian standard AS 4399:2020."

Choosing a rash shirt

Consumer NZ's guide gives specific advice for the rash shirt or swim top that goes over the togs:

Fit: relaxed, not tight. "Loose fitting clothing offers more protection than tight." It says to make sure rash shirts are "a relaxed fit across the shoulders – stretching the material reduces its protection," but not so big that they are hard to swim in.
Colour: dark or bright. "Dark colours and intense bright colours give more protection than light ones. Bright colours also make it easier to spot your child."
Fabric: tight weave. "Fabrics with a tighter weave" protect better, and "shiny polyesters can be very protective because they reflect radiation." Hold the fabric up to a window: "less light filtering through means greater protection."
Wet or dry. "Many fabrics, including UPF-rated clothing, offer less protection when wet."

It adds a safety tip for swimming: wear "only clothing designed as swimwear". Cotton and denim "absorb water and make it difficult to swim and float."

Fitting the togs themselves

The togs underneath are a different case from the rash shirt. Swimwear should fit snugly so it does not slip in the water. The Australian retailer Swimwear Galore advises that if a child "falls between sizes, it's usually better to size down slightly for a snug, safe fit", and that "swimsuits that sag, twist, or ride up are usually a sign that the fit isn't quite right." It recommends checking each brand's own size chart, since sizing varies.

For regular pool swimming, it recommends chlorine-resistant fabric, which it describes as "made from 100% polyester" and built to keep "shape and colour longer."

Making them last

Consumer NZ notes that "the sun, chlorine, washing and stretching will reduce their sun protective properties over time." Signs a rash shirt is no longer protecting well are "slackening of the fabric and loss of shape"; check it when wet "for excessive stretching and transparency."

Its care advice:

Read the care label. Most advise rinsing after use.
Hand wash or use a gentle machine cycle.
Consider a laundry detergent with "optical fluorescent brighteners", which "improve the UV absorption of fabrics."
Dry in the shade.
Don't roll rash shirts up or wrap them in a towel while still wet.

Where to shop in New Zealand

Chain and department stores such as Kmart NZ and Farmers for everyday girls' togs and swim tops.
Sports retailers such as Rebel Sport for performance and training swimwear.
Comparisons: Consumer NZ says it has "independently tested more than 30 models from 23 brands" of sun-protection clothing; its full results are for members.

For New Zealand's own swimwear labels, see our guide to NZ swimwear brands. For the Australian words for togs, which differ by state, see togs vs bathers vs cossie, and for boys, boys' togs in Australia.

Quick checklist

Togs that fit snugly, sized down if between sizes.
A UPF 50+ rash shirt or sun-suit for long days outside, in a relaxed fit.
Dark or bright colours.
Chlorine-resistant fabric for regular pool swimming.
Rinse, gentle wash, dry in the shade.