Tension Canopies — CanopyTech
Purpose-built shade for New Zealand schools
Canvasland's flagship shade system for schools — engineered NZ-made aluminium arch frames married to Ferrari Précontraint® PVC membrane, supplied by CanopyTech and installed by our own crew. Custom-sized to your site, tensioned to last, and reskinnable for decades.
- Ferrari Précontraint® PVC
- NZ-made aluminium frame
- 99% UV blockage
- 8–10 week lead time
- Since 1987
How it works
From first visit to fitted, fixed-price, no surprises.
Rough dimensions
Send us rough dimensions of the site and we'll come back with a ballpark figure.
Free site visit
We visit to check footprint, wind zone and clearance heights before any formal quote.
Fixed-price quote
A formal, fixed-price quote with engineering sign-off.
Frame & membrane made
Your aluminium arch frame and Ferrari PVC membrane are fabricated to the design.
Installed by our crew
Our own Levin-based crew installs on site across the lower North Island.
Why Canvasland
Tension canopies are our flagship system for schools — engineered NZ-made aluminium arch frames married to Ferrari Précontraint® PVC membrane, supplied by CanopyTech and installed by our own crew. Every canopy is custom-engineered to the site footprint, wind zone and clearance heights, not sold as an off-the-shelf kit.
Custom-engineered
Designed to your site footprint, wind zone and clearance heights — not off-the-shelf kits.
Sun-safe
Up to 99% UV blockage over playgrounds, courts, sandpits and lunch areas.
Reskinnable, not replaceable
The frame outlives the membrane — replace the fabric only when worn, a fraction of full replacement.
Buy once, reskin forever. The aluminium frame doesn't degrade — when the membrane eventually reaches end of life (typically 15+ years), only the fabric needs replacing. A reskin returns the canopy to as-new condition at a fraction of full replacement cost. It's an asset, not a consumable.
Features & specs
- Proprietary CanopyTech aluminium extrusion — larger, thicker section than standard architectural aluminium
- Dulux powder-coated frame, 50+ colour options, stainless steel fixings, generic PS1s for fast consent
- Ferrari Précontraint® PVC membrane — French-made, architectural-grade, built for tensile roof applications
- Up to 99% UV blockage, weatherproof, fire-rated, dimensionally stable in all NZ wind zones
- Custom-engineered to your site footprint, wind zone and clearance heights
- Site visit, design, engineering sign-off, fabrication and install all handled by Canvasland
Benefits
- Sun-safe cover for playgrounds, courts, sandpits and lunch areas
- Frame outlives the membrane — reskin instead of replace, at a fraction of the cost
- Fully NZ-made and installed — aluminium, fabrication and install all local
- Engineered to your exact site, not a generic kit
- Local Levin crew for install and ongoing support across the lower North Island
Who it's for
- Schools, kōhanga reo and ECE centres wanting large-span, sun-safe cover
- Sports clubs and community facilities
- Any large-span site needing an engineered shade structure built to last decades
Need a smaller, fully enclosed room instead?
For a patio or outdoor dining area rather than a large playground span, our CanopyTech acrylic sheet roof is a rigid, fully enclosed option with a 10-year warranty.
The offer
Ballpark Estimate & Free Site Visit
Send us rough dimensions of the area and we'll come back with a ballpark figure, then arrange a free site visit before any formal quote.
- Rough dimensions → ballpark estimate
- Free site visit
- Engineering sign-off
- Fixed-price formal quote
Fixed-price guarantee — the price we quote is the price you pay.
Get a ballpark estimateIn business since 1987 · 8–10 week lead time · $400 per m² + GST, installed · 99% UV blockage
Frequently asked questions
What's the frame made of?
A proprietary CanopyTech aluminium extrusion, designed and made in New Zealand — larger and thicker than standard architectural aluminium, Dulux powder-coated in 50+ colours with stainless fixings.
What's the membrane made of?
Ferrari Précontraint® PVC — a French-made, architectural-grade tensioned PVC built specifically for tensile roofs. Up to 99% UV blockage, weatherproof, fire-rated and dimensionally stable in all NZ wind zones.
How long does it last?
The aluminium frame doesn't degrade. The membrane typically lasts 15+ years, and when it's worn we reskin it — new membrane, same frame — at a fraction of full replacement cost.
How much does it cost?
Roughly $400 per m² + GST, installed. Send us rough dimensions for a ballpark, then we'll do a free site visit before a formal fixed-price quote.
How long does it take?
Typically an 8–10 week lead time from formal quote to install.
Will it need council consent?
The frame comes with generic PS1 producer statements, which speeds up the consent process. We handle the engineering sign-off as part of the job.
Is this only for schools?
It's our flagship system for schools, purpose-built for sun-safe cover over playgrounds, courts, sandpits and lunch areas — but the same system suits any large-span site needing engineered, long-life shade.
Tension Canopies — CanopyTech
Shade that outlives the fabric.
Send us rough dimensions for a ballpark estimate, then we'll arrange a free site visit before any formal quote.