Drowning is a preventable public health problem. Our 2023 National Drowning Prevention Report highlighted the loss of 90 individuals from our communities. Every person is someone’s friend, family member or colleague – every person not returning home from the fishing trip, diving, or day out at the river, beach, or pool leaves an irreplaceable gap in other people’s lives.

Water Safety New Zealand remains steadfast in our belief that too many New Zealanders and visitors to Aotearoa New Zealand are losing their lives in drowning incidents that could have been prevented. Across 2023/24 we have changed some of our direction to focus harder on key areas of prevention and continue to evolve from the organisation we used to be.

The 2023/24 year has been one of significant progress for Water Safety New Zealand. Our central message this year remains the power is in prevention. Helping politicians and other decision-makers to be aware of the burden on our country from preventable drowning is a key responsibility for us. Our engagement with policymakers is underpinned by our ability to present data-driven evidence-based solutions, emphasising the need for long-term investment in prevention strategies.

We have called on the government to recognise that preventing drownings is not just about addressing the immediate crisis, but about shifting the entire culture of water safety in Aotearoa New Zealand. This cultural shift is possible. We must continue to push for systemic change that prioritises prevention and safety education at all levels.

Anna Tootill

Water Safety New Zealand Board Chair

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As we look ahead to the future, Water Safety New Zealand’s focus remains firmly on prevention. We are committed to building on the progress we’ve made this year, leveraging data to guide our decisions, and continuing to advocate for the changes necessary to keep Kiwis safe in, on, and around the water.

The power of prevention lies in our ability to take action today to save lives tomorrow. Our advocacy efforts, supported by data and collaboration, will ensure that water safety becomes an integral part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s national identity. In line with our power is in prevention approach, we have concentrated on three critical areas this year:

1. Preparing the next generation

The Water Skills for Life™ programme continues to play a vital role in shaping future generations of water-safe New Zealanders. This year, we reached 1 in 5 New Zealand children. Under Esther Hone’s leadership and guidance, we are equipping young people with the life-saving skills they need to navigate water safely, embedding these lessons as lifelong habits in the pool, at the beach and in the river. By investing in the next generation, we are building a foundation of water safety that will ripple through future communities.

2. Targeting riskiest locations

High-risk locations, or Blackspots, remain a focal point for Water Safety New Zealand’s efforts. Data, residing in DrownBase™, has been critical in helping us identify where these areas are and what interventions may support these most effective. By working closely with tangata whenua, land managers, local councils, and communities, we are engaging and identifying targeted solutions to reduce drownings in these risky areas. This data-driven approach ensures that resources are directed to where they will have the greatest impact, maximising the life-saving potential of our work.

3. Supporting over-representation – people, place, and activity

Through our enhanced data capabilities, we have identified clear patterns of over-representation in drowning statistics across specific demographic groups, activities, and environments. For example, Auckland, with the region’s growing population, continues to account for the highest number of overall drowning fatalities. Rivers have emerged as the most hazardous environment, surpassing other water bodies in fatalities.

Within these statistics, specific subsets of the population, such as Asian New Zealanders who gather food from waterways, are also over-represented. This data allows us to tailor our prevention efforts to these high-risk groups, ensuring that our interventions are precise, targeted, and effective in addressing the distinct needs of those most vulnerable.

Daniel Gerrard

Chief Executive