Growing pressure on water safety sector

Waitangi weekend drowning toll reflects growing pressure on water safety sector

Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) says the deaths of four people in preventable drowning incidents over Waitangi weekend reflects the challenges faced by the water safety sector.

There have now been 31 preventable fatal drownings since December 1st 2016.

CEO Jonty Mills says there needs to be a dramatic change to Kiwis attitudes and behavior around water, and a shift in how water safety is perceived and funded.

“As a country, we have to ask ourselves whether it’s ok to have one of the highest drowning death tolls in the developed world. If not, then we need to do something about it with every Kiwi taking personal responsibility.”

Jonty Mills says while industry surveys, campaigns and research show water safety messages are reaching their target audiences, behaviour is not changing.

“It reflects the complex nature of the problem we face. In terms of water based activities, the landscape is changing. We have increased immigration, an ageing population and increased tourism all adding to the complexity of the problem.”

The eight preventable drowning deaths of the official summer holiday period is an illustration of this.

Six different age groups across five different environments, five different ethnicities and six different activities.

Mills says there needs to be a rethink around how we approach and fund water safety.

“The water safety sector relies predominantly on non-government funding and a volunteer base. While demand on the sector is growing rapidly the pool of funding isn’t. There is a growing gap between the capacity of the sector to keep people safe and ever increasing participation and costs.”

Mills says the sector needs to attract more funding and while additional government support would be welcome, funding alone will not solve the problem.

“We need a culture change around water, similar to the wearing of seatbelts and drink driving.”

While the fatalities grab the headlines, the personal, social and economic impact of non-fatal drowning incidents for families and the country is significant.

“Drowning is not just a death or full recovery scenario. Sadly, there are long term consequences for many as a result of serious brain, spinal or head injuries,” says Jonty Mills.

He says it must start with education and his organisation is directing most of its funding towards giving 5 – 13 year olds life-long foundational skills through it’s Water Skills for Life initiative.

“The New Zealand Council for Educational Research tells us only a quarter of our schools achieve an acceptable level of water safety education. We need to change that.”

ENDS

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