Shay, Author at Undercover Industries

Best Shade Sails for Schools and Playcentres

by Shay | Oct 22, 2025 | Uncategorized

Creating safe, comfortable outdoor spaces for children is one of the most important tasks for schools and early childhood centres. When choosing shade solutions, nothing beats a properly designed, purpose-built shade sail.

At Undercover Industries, based in Tauranga and serving the wider Bay of Plenty region, we specialise in premium-quality sun shade sails for educational facilities — helping protect children, minimise heat risks, and create usable outdoor play and learning zones.

Why Shade Sails Matter for Schools and Playcentres

New Zealand experiences some of the highest UV radiation levels in the world, and children spend significant time outdoors — whether during play, sports, or learning. Quality shade structures are not optional; they’re essential.

• Shade sails create covered areas where children can play and learn without being exposed to harmful UV rays.
• The Cancer Society of New Zealand notes that “not all shade is created equal – some trees and shade sails do not offer sufficient protection from UV radiation”
• According to Shade Systems NZ, playground shade sails are vital because “kids spend hours outside… and New Zealand has some of the highest UV levels of any country”

In short, a properly engineered shade sail helps protect children from sunburn and long-term UV damage, reduces surface heat on playground equipment, and extends outdoor usability throughout the year — so students can play, learn, and explore safely.

What Makes a Great Shade Sail for Schools & Playcentres

At Undercover Industries, our shade sails are engineered for strength, safety, and long-term durability.
Our premium shade sails feature:

• Specifically designed fabrics to cover both small and large areas
• UPF/UVR-rated materials, meeting shade standards for homes, businesses, and educational facilities
• Up to 99% UV protection and up to 97% shade coverage
• Fabric with over 20 years of proven performance in NZ and 52 countries worldwide
• 24 colours to match school branding or playground design
• Fabric weights between 196 GSM – 320 GSM, depending on the application
• A 10-year limited fabric warranty (T&Cs apply)
• Fray- and tear-resistant HDPE (High Density Poly-Ethylene) material
• Fabric cut only after pole installation, ensuring a perfect fit
• 316 stainless-steel fixings and powder-coated galvanised-steel poles
• Designs that withstand New Zealand’s harsh climate

We also offer an annual shade sail removal, inspection, cleaning, and re-installation service — extending the life of your investment and ensuring compliance with safety standards.

Tailored Shade Sail Solutions for Educational Facilities

Every school and playcentre has unique outdoor challenges — irregular playground layouts, high-traffic play areas, and exposed courtyards. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.

Our team will:

• Assess your site for sun angles, orientation, and daily usage patterns.
• Recommend the best fabric weight (196–320 GSM), colour, and support structure.
• Custom-design your sail for a perfect fit and maximum coverage.
• Install using only premium-grade materials designed for safety and longevity.

The Benefits at a Glance

• Up to 99% UV protection for students and teachers
• Cooler playground equipment and surfaces, reducing burn risk
• Extended outdoor learning and play time throughout the school day
• Custom colours and shapes to complement your environment
• Low-maintenance, long-life performance thanks to durable HDPE and stainless components
• Improved safety and compliance with NZ sun-protection standards
• Modern, aesthetic design that enhances your grounds

Why Choose Undercover Industries

• Local expertise – based in Tauranga, serving the Bay of Plenty
• Education-focused design – tailored specifically for schools and playcentres
• Premium materials – stainless hardware, heavy-duty poles, and proven fabrics
• Lifetime value – annual servicing, 10-year fabric warranty, and precision installation
• Family-owned & operated – delivering quality, reliability, and honest service

Make Your Outdoor Areas Safe and Enjoyable Year-Round

If your school or playcentre is planning new shade coverage or upgrading existing sails, contact Undercover Industries for a free site consultation and quote.

We’ll help you design a custom shade solution that:

• Keeps children safe from harmful UV rays
• Extends the usability of your outdoor learning areas
• Looks fantastic for years to come

Undercover Industries — Your trusted Tauranga shade sail specialists, protecting Bay of Plenty schools and playcentres from the harsh New Zealand sun.

Five Reasons why you should Have a Pergola At Home

by Shay | Oct 13, 2019 | Blog

Outdoor living is an important part of life in NZ, but our strong sun and unpredictable weather can often send us running indoors. Pergolas, awnings and sunshades are some of the best tools we have to battle the elements and follow our Kiwi instincts to enjoy the great outdoors to the fullest.

At Undercover Industries in Mount Maunganui, our attractive and sturdy pergolas make it easy to get outside every chance you get – here are five of the top reasons that locals are falling in love with our pergolas.

1. Enhance Your Outdoor Entertainment Area

If you love hosting dinner parties and BBQs, a pergola is for you. By building one of our aluminium awnings, you will have an effortless entertainment area to use come sun, wind or rain. Our pergolas allow for shaded seating that acts like an extension of your dining room, letting you enjoy more space – and fresh air – while gathered around with family and friends.

2. Stay Safe and Comfortable in Summer

One of the hardest parts of Kiwi summers is the sun’s harsh rays – if we weren’t worried about sunburns and heat exhaustion we’d be outside far more often. Adding an awning to your house allows you and your family to enjoy the warmth of summer without roasting. You can relax under the shade of a pergola with 99.9% UV Protection enjoying the sea breeze and a cool drink, without feeling like you have to escape indoors to the A/C, or the harsh UV rays.

3. Beautiful Backyards

Our pergolas in and of themselves are striking features that play a big role in creating attractive backyards that complement well landscaped sections. Enhance your backyard’s beauty further and insert your very own personality into the shaded space by filling it with hanging lights, potted plants and vines and furniture that will remain protected at the same time.

4. Additional Privacy

Let’s face it, even houses in Tauranga designed by architects have many great traits, but privacy is not always one of them. Real estate across the region is valuable, which means that our houses are often close together and you can feel like you’re eating dinner with your neighbours. Pergolas offer privacy, and you can enhance this feeling of personal space by dressing up your awnings with Ziptrak outdoor blinds, hedging, potted plants or privacy screens.

5. Increase Your Home’s Value

Beautiful landscaping most certainly adds value to homes in NZ, and pergolas are an easy and affordable way to enhance your outdoor area. For all the reasons listed above, our sturdy and well-built awnings will not only increase your indoor-outdoor flow right now, but they’ll also be an asset when the time comes to sell your house. Let’s face it, Kiwis love the outdoors – so why not create a space that allows the outdoor area usable all year round.

Ready to add a pergola to your house? Talk to the team at Undercover Industries – we are Mount Maunganui locals with a mission to help homeowners throughout the Tauranga area make the most of their backyards.

Made by Locals, Installed by Locals – For the Locals.