Supporting Communities

Every community deserves to enjoy their waterways safely. By combining robust data analysis with community support and education we can prevent drownings, and build resilient communities where everyone can stay safe and respect the water.

We work with communities and providers to reduce drowning risks. We use data to understand where and why drowning incidents happen and invest in community-led interventions to make the biggest impact.

Community partners – helping us drive down risk

Water Safety NZ’s community partners provide well-designed interventions with strong local support and a cost-effective approach. Funding is targeted to:
• High-Risk Communities
• High-Risk Environments
• High-Risk Activities

Kia Maanu Kia Ora l Stay Afloat, Stay Alive community partners

In 2025/26, Kia Maanu Kia Ora Stay Afloat Stay Alive funding supports 14 targeted programmes focused on inter-generational learning and reducing access gaps in underserved regions.

Most of the funding is directed to North Island communities with a long history of disproportionate drowning risk, particularly in coastal areas. Programmes centre on kai gathering activities – such as diving, free diving, snorkelling, shellfish gathering, and rock fishing – and actively engage Māori and Asian males aged 35–54.

See the funded partners

Water Skills for Life community partners

Water Skills for Life funding focuses on communities most at risk – supporting tamariki in schools with an Equity Index (EQI) of 446 or higher, where whānau face financial or accessibility barriers to water safety education.

The funding is invested in proven initiatives that make a real difference.

See the funded partners

Investing in communities

The purpose of Water Safety New Zealand's community funding is to invest in community-led interventions that tackle the drivers of drowning in Aotearoa. By investing in this way, we aim to have a positive impact on the drowning rate and to build community capability across the country.

Funding priorities in 2025/26 are shaped by data-driven evidence.

Drowning risk in Aotearoa isn’t the same everywhere. The highest risks are seen where there is both high exposure to water-related activities and low levels of water safety knowledge or training.

Find out more about Community Funding

See our funding Q&As

Family standing by boat all wearing lifejackets

Latest Newsletters

See our latest news, views, and updates from the Water Safety New Zealand community

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News & insights

Keep up to date with the latest news and insights from Water Safety New Zealand.

Community news

Calls grow for rāhui to have greater legal recognition

Data insights

Drowning in New Zealand: A Solvable Problem

Community news

Māori gift new name for Coastguard New Zealand

Improving impact across Aotearoa

We work with others to advocate, provide data analysis, and use our expertise to evaluate and improve water safety programmes. We do this using:

Data-driven assessments

‍Data shows us the problem. Communities show us the solution. We combine our exclusive drowning and expert research to identify high-risk areas, then work with communities to developed tailored interventions that save lives.

Educational engagement

‍We support schools and communities with the tools and knowledge to teach water survival skills. By integrating water survival competence into education, we’re helping to build lifelong awareness and long-term safety practices around water.

See Water Skills for Life™ and Water Skills for Life™ – River.

Research collaboration

‍For anyone interested in contributing to the broader understanding of drowning prevention, Water Safety New Zealand offers opportunities for collaborative research using DrownBase™ and research experts. This database and data science expertise provides invaluable insights into the causes and circumstances of water-related incidents, supporting councils in developing long-term safety strategies.

Ongoing Support and Evaluation

‍Water safety is an ongoing commitment, not a one-off solution. We work closely with councils to provide continued support, including follow-up assessments to evaluate how well safety measures are working and making necessary adjustments based on fresh data and changing environmental conditions.

This ensures your community's water safety measures remain effective and up-to-date.

Funding support

We work with mana whenua, charities, local government, water safety community partners and providers across the aquatic, education, and voluntary sectors. By co-investing in initiatives, we tackle the most significant drowning risks to New Zealanders. For 75 years, we’ve helpedNew Zealanders stay safe around water. Thousands of Kiwis have gained essential water skills through our nationwide networked of trusted providers – because every life saved matters.

Thanks to Partner Support

This funding is possible thanks to Sport New Zealand, ACC, and the Lotteries Grants Board extending their support for another year.

Together, we can make Aotearoa’s waters safer for everyone.

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