Water Safety New Zealand, members, supporters, funders and service delivery agents, are advocates and influencers for social change around water safety. Together we are making positive change for a thriving Aotearoa/New Zealand.
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The first of the 4-part Te Waiora documentary videos tells the stories of people that testify how water (wai) is central to Māori identity, health and wellbeing. Shot mostly around the Wellington coastline, ‘Kohikohi – Gathering Seafood‘ follows a group of divers and safety advocates, through their recollections and daily experiences of... Keep Reading
Māori are disproportionately represented in Aotearoa’s drowning statistics, despite having an indigenous connection to the water. Surfers Maioha Kelly and Jordan Waiti have been working with rangatahi across Aotearoa to deliver surf lessons, using mātaraunga Māori to strengthen and deepen their connection to Tangaroa. Based in surfing... Keep Reading
Shot on location on the Whanganui River, Mamah and Ngapuke Patea pass on their knowledge and love of the awa (river). Together with their older brother Ash, Mamah and Ngapuke formed ‘Kii Tai Cultural Tours’ to transform their passion into mahi (work) and help others reconnect to their whakapapa. Keep Reading
Waka can help a person heal and Mika Tawhara is testament to that. An accident and resulting brain injury left her struggling to speak, but Mika turned to the waka to help her heal Mika found Waka Ama later in her life, but it quickly became more than a hobby. It became a community and a powerful tool for healing that she could not have... Keep Reading
Preliminary figures from Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) indicate the preventable fatal drowning toll for the official holiday period is three. The summer holiday period ran from 4.00pm Thursday 24 December 2020 through to 6.00am Tuesday 5 January 2021. Keep Reading
After a difficult year New Zealanders will be keen to hit the beaches, lakes and rivers this holiday season and the predicted numbers have water safety advocates on edge. “While we want everyone to enjoy the summer break we need everyone to take some personal responsibility for their safety this summer,” says Water Safety New Zealand... Keep Reading
New Zealand Water Safety Month is approaching halfway and tragically since the month started six people have fatally drowned in preventable incidents. “This is a shocking reminder of how many New Zealanders are needlessly losing their lives while in, on and around the water. Every fatality leaving a devastated family and community... Keep Reading
My name is Amber, I'm 28 and live in the suburb of Linwood in Christchirch, New Zealand. Our property is rather long. We've had pools over the years with no issues, fully fenced with a safety latch. We took it down years ago before any of my following story happened. Keep Reading
Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) has undertaken a strategic refresh to get greater cut through with its Water Skills for Life aquatic education programme for children aged five to 13. Water Skills for Life is delivered to children in New Zealand primary schools. It is linked into the national education curriculum and gives children in years 1... Keep Reading
Staff at the Dudley Park Swimming Pool have made it their mission to provide every primary school aged child in the North Canterbury region with the opportunity to participate in swimming and water safety lessons with qualified instructors, who are passionate about what they are teaching. The staff were tasked with making a difference to the... Keep Reading
Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) is investing $2.5 million in water safety interventions through its 2020/21 annual Funding Round. WSNZ is also very pleased to announce a new major partnership with ACC as the naming partner for its national standard for aquatic education, Water Skills for Life. WSNZ CEO Jonty Mills says working... Keep Reading
Kia Ora, I am writing to advise that after much consideration, I’ll be moving on from Water Safety New Zealand at the end of December 2020. Water Safety New Zealand is repositioning itself for the future, refreshing its strategic direction, and aligning with the pending launch of a new collective Water Safety Sector Strategy for the next... Keep Reading
Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) has published final preventable drowning fatality and hospitalisation data in the Drowning Report 2019, as it considers the impact of COVID-19 on water safety. Drowning is the leading cause of recreational death and the third highest cause of accidental death in New Zealand. In 2019 there were 82... Keep Reading
We speak to Clare about the journey she is on with her daughter to learn how to be safe around water: My child is 2 years 8 months old and in regard to water awareness and skills, we are taking a ‘games’ orientated approach to her learning to survive in water. She is very happy around water. She has little fear of it, and this is sometimes a... Keep Reading
Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) is urging all New Zealanders to recreate responsibly during the Covid 19 Level 4 lock down period and stay out of the water. While it might seem tempting to head out to sea, the rivers, lakes or head for the hills for some remote recreation, the public is reminded that New Zealand’s water safety and search and... Keep Reading
Kia Maanu Kia Ora
Water Safety New Zealand
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