With hot weather forecast for the long weekend and with people expected to head to the beaches, rivers and lakes in large numbers Water Safety New Zealand is urging everyone to ‘Respect the water’. “While we want everyone to get out and enjoy the waterways it’s so important that water safety is part of your preparations,” says CEO Jonty... Keep Reading

Update and archive of news relating to Water Safety New Zealand and issues involving water safety, better water skills and drowning prevention Keep Reading

It’s a fact that many New Zealanders enjoy boating and fishing. It’s also a fact that too many boaties are drowning unnecessarily. While the number dropped from 21 preventable boating fatalities in 2017 to just six in 2018, in 2019 the provisional number is back up to 18. Every one of these fatalities is a tragedy for a family and a community,... Keep Reading

A child’s ability to stay afloat and safe in the water is something every parent wants. ACC is working with Water Safety New Zealand to ensure children get the opportunity to learn vital water safety skills while they’re at primary school. Water Skills for Life gives children the skills and knowledge they need to assess risk and make wise... Keep Reading

Preliminary figures from Water Safety New Zealand indicate the preventable fatal drowning toll for the official 19/20 summer holiday period is six. The summer holiday period ran from 4.00pm Tuesday 24 December and ran through to 6.00am Friday 3 January 2020. Keep Reading

The rescues at Ōtaki and Himatangi recently are a timely reminder as we head in to summer that we need to respect the water. While we all get excited at this time of year as the weather and water warms up, holiday season approaches and it’s time to hit the beach, it’s also critical that families think about water safety. The outcomes of... Keep Reading

Water Safety agencies join forces to tackle drownings at Hunua Falls Water Safety New Zealand, Auckland Council, Drowning Prevention Auckland and a number of Auckland water safety partners are working together this summer to prevent further drownings at popular summer spot, Hunua Falls. The Falls is one of the focus areas of the Auckland re... Keep Reading

TOG BOX Let’s get togs to those who need them!   Tog Box is an initiative from Water Safety New Zealand and Swimming Wellington to supply togs to those who need them. Not owning a pair of togs can be a barrier to gaining an aquatic education for many Kiwis. Through Water Safety New Zealand’s work to get Water Skills for Life aquat... Keep Reading

It was fortunate for one family at Ōtaki Beach on Friday, November 29, that local Pete Housiaux was out walking his dog. If not for Pete’s surf-lifesaving skills, the family could have been mourning the loss of at least two boys this Christmas. Pete was at the beach about 4pm when he noticed three girls drifting in a rip. They managed to... Keep Reading

Water safety investment in Wellington. Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) is pleased to be investing in locally driven drowning prevention intiatives in Wellington with a focus on primary school aquatic education, and piloting a high school aquatic education course. In 2018 66 people lost their lives in New Zealand in preventable* drowning inci... Keep Reading

Water safety organisations from around the country gathered in Auckland last week to address the need to innovate and adapt in a changing world in order to address New Zealand’s drowning problem. Keep Reading

Water Safety New Zealand is pleased to be investing in locally driven drowning prevention initiatives in Auckland with a focus on primary school aquatic education and water safety programmes in line with the Auckland Regional Water Safety Strategy. Keep Reading

A new partnership between Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) and ACC investing $1m over the next two years into kaupapa Māori water safety is being celebrated at a hui in Auckland. Keep Reading

Water Safety New Zealand is pleased to be investing in locally driven drowning prevention intiatives in Gisborne/East Coast with a focus on primary school aquatic education and kaupapa Maori water safety programmes. In 2018 66 people lost their lives in New Zealand in preventable* drowning incidents. This was the second lowest toll on record,... Keep Reading