Media Centre

New Zealand’s 2018 preventable drowning toll might be the second lowest in 20 years but Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) says there is no room for complacency. The provisional toll is down from 92 in 2017 to 68 in 2018. This is the second lowest total on record after 2010 with 64. WSNZ CEO Jonty Mills says while the number is encouraging... Keep Reading

The inaugural Get Outdoors Week (GO Week) led by the Mountain Safety Council (MSC) and Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) is about encouraging families to get out and enjoy the great outdoors well prepared and informed. While concerns around safety may put some parents off heading out on an adventure, GO Week is about making sure people get the... Keep Reading

A renewed partnership between Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) and Māori is being celebrated at a special event on the Whanganui River. WSNZ CEO Jonty Mills will join Māori water safety advocate and educator Rob Hewitt and Te Taitimu Trust founder Zack Makoare for a powhiri and water safety workshop. 130 Māori youth will also be given the... Keep Reading

Holiday Period Drowning Toll Stands at Four Figures from Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) indicate the preventable fatal drowning toll for the official holiday period (running from 4.00pm 24th December 2018 to 6.00am 3rd January 2019) is four. "This is half of last years’ toll for the same period and whilst encouraging, one prevent... Keep Reading

Wishing for a Drowning Free Christmas Period As Kiwis head out in droves to enjoy New Zealand's beaches, rivers, lakes, swimming pools and other water spots this Christmas Surf Life Saving New Zealand, Coastguard and Water Safety New Zealand are urging people to think about water safety for themselves, friends and family. Water Safety New Ze... Keep Reading

Soaring numbers of inexperienced boaties are heading out to sea in Auckland concerning water safety advocates. Research* shows a dramatic increase in the numbers of new boat trailer registrations and a high percentage of boaties on the water with fewer than five years experience.   WSNZ CEO Jonty Mills says the figures are a concern ... Keep Reading

Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) will continue to focus its investment in drowning prevention on Water Skills for Life and it has also launched a new research fund to find new insights into this country’s drowning problem. Downing is the leading cause of recreational death, the second highest cause of death by unintentional injury for 1 – 24... Keep Reading

Water Skills for Life is all about kids having fun while they learn water safety. The national standard for aquatic education in primary schools, Water Skills for Life will be promoted to parents and caregivers on national television from early October 2018. The new TV commercial incorporates students from Titahi Bay primary school as the tal... Keep Reading

Water Safety New Zealand, Swimming New Zealand and The Warehouse are working to address a lag in vital water safety skills in New Zealand primary school children. Student achievement in Water Skills For Life is recorded in a national database and an analysis of the 1.7 million records has identified low levels of achievement across a number of... Keep Reading

Water Safety New Zealand has serious concerns about a lag in vital water safety skills in New Zealand primary school children. Student achievement across 27 skills of Water Skills For Life is recorded in a national database and an analysis of the 1.7 million records has identified low levels of achievement across a number of floating and... Keep Reading

Research by Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) has revealed over a third of kiwis have experienced a serious situation in the water, and continue to underestimate the danger posed by our waterways. In WSNZ’s third annual Attitudes and Behaviour survey drowning is recognised as a problem by 84% o... Keep Reading

  New research by Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) shows the Swim Reaper water safety campaign appears to be changing attitudes and behaviour. The campaign is designed to target young males aged 15 to 34 who make up a third of New Zealand’s annual drowning toll.  First launched over the summer of 2016/17 it has been a great su... Keep Reading

A new approach to reduce drownings in Bay of Plenty A group of local community leaders brought together by Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ)will meet tomorrow for the first time to set the vision for a new water safety strategy forthe Bay of Plenty. WSNZ CEO Jonty Mills says every region in New Zealand faces it’s own unique challengeswhe... Keep Reading

Safety agencies urge day trippers to be prepared The preventable drowning of an international student at Tauranga's Omanawa Falls has highlighted how New Zealand’s natural beauty can mask the danger that exists in our great outdoors. The death of 27 year old Kishore Kumar Aravindan is the 30th preventable drowning in New Zealand for 20... Keep Reading

Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) is looking to broaden the reach of Water Skills for Life and fund research to fill knowledge gaps on New Zealand’s drowning problem. WSNZ’s Investment Programme is now open to applications and the priorities for 2018/19 are the ongoing implementation of Water Skills for Life (WSFL) for children in Years 1 -... Keep Reading