- A third (32%) of all NZ drownings occur in rivers or inland waterways
- 1,399 Lives have been lost in ‘rivers’ since 1980
- 44% of all inland waterway drownings are under 25
- On average we lose 33 kiwis each year in lakes and rivers
Our next summer may be a long and great one. Drowning statistics tell us more than 30 families will lose a loved one this summer in a preventable river drowning.
Water Safety New Zealand Chief Executive Daniel Gerrard describes rivers as ‘a silent killer’. New Zealand children are missing out on critical river safety education and more should be done to help communities to learn how to stay safe.
Yesterday’s (20 October) tragedy in Northland and other recent high-profile incidents, including the kayaking tragedy near Milford Sound, West Coast white baiting tragedies, two double drownings in the Manawatū River and at Lake Wakatipu in Glenorchy, are real reminders of the unseen hazards our rivers pose.
“Too many lives have been lost to New Zealand’s rivers, and it’s time we step up our efforts to give our young people the skills and knowledge to prevent these tragedies,” says Daniel Gerrard.
“Water Skills for Life™ – River is about building capability, giving kids the tools they need to stay safe in some of the most dangerous environments they’ll face.”
According to Water Safety New Zealand, just one of every five New Zealand children receive pool-based survival training. One in 20 have access to beach-based survival education, and very few have access to river-specific safety programmes. The majority of New Zealand children are missing out on critical river safety education.
Dedicated education programme Water Skills for Life™ – River, is a specific safety education programme designed for school-aged children in New Zealand. The programme gets kids out to see, experience and practice key survival skills in their local river so that they are better equipped to stay safe. This initiative aims to prepare the next generation of tamariki to:
- Read river conditions and identify hazards such as strong currents, sudden drops, and submerged obstacles.
- Respond in emergencies, equipping them with lifesaving and basic rescue skills.
- Understand river safety, empowering them to make safe decisions around water.
Collective impact for river-based education
Water Safety New Zealand is calling for local councils, schools, and community organisations to work with them to identify local initiatives that will reduce the risk of river drownings.
“By working together, we can ensure communities in every region are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe around their local rivers.
“Water Skills for Life™ – River isn’t just a programme, it’s a life-saving initiative.“
As a charity, we need local partners to help bring us Water Skills for Life™ – River to life and make sure that no child in New Zealand is left unprepared. We would encourage communities to get in touch.”
Related: Water SafetyNew Zealand is drawing attention to the danger lurking in our rivers and inland waterways. Tragically, New Zealand rivers and lakes have claimed 1,399 lives since 1980, accounting for 32% of all drownings. Men (84%) and those under 24 years old (44%, 607), are disproportionately affected, and the statistics have shown little change over the years.
Nearly half (48%) of all victims “slipped or fell” suggesting they had not intended to be in the water. This highlights the need for basic river safety skills in case things go wrong.Coronial findings from these cases paint a consistent picture: many drownings occur inseemingly calm waters, with victims unaware of strong currents, submerged objects, and sudden drop offs. They often involve rescuers becoming the victim and more recently the challenges associated with extreme weather events.
In the case of Glenorchy, locals continue to warn about the "unseen dangers"beneath the surface of Lake Wakatipu, a notorious swimming spot that claimed lives despite locals erecting warning signs. Similarly, the Clarence River rafting death, now under a WorkSafe investigation, underscores the risks even experienced river-goers face.
About Water Skills for Life™WaterSkills for Life™ – River along with its sister programme Water Skills for Life™ – Beach are extensions of the long-standing Water Skills for Life™ pool-based programme. Water Skills for Life™ Prioritises water survival: Giving children age 5-13 the skills and knowledge they need to assess risk and make smarter decisions around water.
Developed by Water Safety New Zealand, Water Skills for Life™ provides freely available resources aimed at enhancing the quality and focus of aquatic programmes. The programme emphasises age-appropriate skills relevant to environments where drownings most commonly occur, such as beaches, rivers, and lakes. Water Skills for Life™ has been delivered throughout New Zealand by experienced school teachers and swim school instructors for over a decade, through the support of ACC and local funding partners.
Risk & Hazard Assessment Services Water Safety New Zealand also provide risk & hazard assessment services for local and regional councils, aimed at improving safety on rivers, lakes, and other inland waterways across the country. As the kaitiaki of the DrownBase™ knowledge hub, which includes data from coronial information, police reports, Ministry ofHealth’s non-fatal injury data, ACC’s water-related injury, search and rescue incident and digital “exposure” data, Water Safety New Zealand is uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive hazard and risk assessments for local communities.
For more information on how your organisation can get involved, contact Chief Executive,Daniel Gerrard, daniel@watersafety.org.nz or visit www.watersafetynz.org.
