Drowning risk in Aotearoa is not spread evenly across the population. The highest risks are seen where there is both high exposure to water-related activities and low levels of water safety knowledge or training. Key areas of drowning risk include:

High-Risk Communities

Some groups experience a disproportionate risk of drowning due to barriers in accessing water safety education or cultural relevance of current programmes. These include:

• Māori, particularly during kai gathering or mahinga kai practices.
• Pasifika and Asian communities, especially in urban centres like Auckland, where water competency levels can be low.
• New migrants and refugee communities, who may be unfamiliar with New Zealand’s unique aquatic environments.
• Hard-to-reach or rural communities, where access to aquatic education is limited.

High-Risk Activities

Certain water-related activities consistently contribute to drowning incidents:

• Gathering kai, including shellfish collection and whitebaiting, often in hazardous or isolated areas.
• Rock fishing, especially where conditions can change quickly.
• Jumping from structures like bridges or wharves, where depth and underwater hazards are unknown.
• Swimming or wading in unsupervised or hazardous locations, such as rivers or isolated beaches.

High-Risk Environments

Some natural settings present a greater danger due to currents, terrain, or remoteness:

• Fast-moving rivers and steep riverbanks
• Remote or unsupervised swimming holes
• Unpatrolled beaches and coastal areas known for strong rips or surges
• Fishing locations with slippery rocks, sudden drops, or no access to help

Low Participation in water safety training

There is an ongoing risk when individuals and communities do not have the opportunity to build water safety skills. Many of the above high-risk communities are underrepresented in current water safety education and training initiatives.

Funding is open to a broad range of community-based partners, including mana whenua, charities, local government, and water safety organisations – especially those delivering aquatic education and drowning prevention initiatives.

Water Skills for Life funding is targeted for building skills and knowledge of primary and intermediate aged school-aged children.

Kia Maanu Kia Ora funding supports drowning prevention initiatives that provide water safety education and skills training to increase skills and knowledge for people who are most at risk of drowning.

Drowning risk in Aotearoa is influenced by a complex mix of cultural practices, access to education, environment, and behaviour. The groups most at risk are those over represented in drowning statistics and underrepresented in current water safety education efforts. Addressing this imbalance is key to saving lives.

We direct funding and investment to population groups most at risk because:

• They experience the highest levels of drowning harm.
• They face barriers to participation in existing water safety programmes.
• They benefit most from tailored, strengths-based approaches that respect cultural practices and community leadership.

Men – particularly aged 35–54

• Men account for the majority of drowning deaths in New Zealand.
• Risk is linked to over confidence, alcohol use, and participation in high-risk activities such as rock fishing, boating, and jumping from structures.
• Many men do not participate in formal aquatic education after childhood, leading to a gap in real-world water competence.

Māori men – especially when kai gathering

• Kai gathering is a vital cultural practice, but it often takes place in high-risk aquatic environments like rivers, estuaries, and remote coastal areas.
• Māori men are significantly over-represented in preventable drowning statistics.
• Cultural safety, whānau-based learning, and intergenerational knowledge sharing are key to effective engagement.

People with low levels of water competence

• This includes individuals who lack the practical survival skills and situational awareness to stay safe in open water.

Specific Asian populations in high-risk urban regions like Auckland are particularly at risk due to limited access to culturally appropriate aquatic education and lack of familiarity with Aotearoa’s open water environments.

Language barriers, recent migration, and limited experience in natural water settings compound this risk.

New migrants and refugee background communities

• Often unfamiliar with the hazards of New Zealand’s rivers, beaches, and coastline.
• May come from countries where aquatic recreation is uncommon or where swimming is not part of the school curriculum.
• Engagement requires community-led approaches and education that is linguistically and culturally accessible.

Rural and Remote Communities

• These communities may have high exposure to natural water environments but limited access to aquatic education, training facilities, or emergency services.
• Programmes must be flexible and locally delivered to meet the specific needs of these areas.

The 2025 National Drowning Prevention Report highlights that key drowning risks remain higher than they should be.

Our funding priorities for 2026/27 are targeted at strengthening the scale and reach of funded programmes. By concentrating our funding, we can avoid spreading resources too thin and ensure meaningful impact.

There is clear, long-term evidence that better support for our next generation to be safer around water has inter-generational benefit for safer behaviour and safer decision-making.

We’re proud to have so many of NZ’s primary and intermediate schools with an Equity Index score of 446 or above using Water Skills for Life. But there are plenty that are missing out.

Access regional lists of schools who are not currently using Water Skills for Life.

A school must have an Equity Index score of 446 or above to be eligible for support from Water Safety NZ. Read more on waterskills.org

To ensure our funding supports community-led, not-for-profit initiatives with a focus on drowning prevention and water safety, the following items are not eligible for funding:

General Exclusions

• Retrospective costs (expenses incurred before funding is approved)
• Debt repayment or servicing of loans
• Fundraising activities or prize money
• Commercial ventures or activities generating personal profit
• Political lobbying or activities promoting a political party
• Legal fees or disputes Organisational and Delivery Standards
• We do not fund:
  • Organisations or individuals who are not suitably qualified to deliver water safety, education, or aquatic programmes
  • Programmes that do not meet recognised health and safety standards
  • Groups or individuals without appropriate insurance, including public liability or professional indemnity insurance where relevant
  • Unregistered or informal groups without a legal or accountable structure

Operational and Staffing

• Core operational costs not directly linked to programme delivery (eg, general admin, office rental)
• Wages or salaries not specifically related to project delivery or not time-limited
• Overheads (unless clearly justified and directly connected to the funded project)

Assets and Capital

• Capital works (e.g., building construction or major facility upgrades)
• Vehicle purchases
• Large-scale infrastructure or ongoing maintenance of existing facilities

Education and Equipment

• Non-water-related education programmes
• Equipment not essential to delivery (e.g., branded clothing, giveaways)
• School curriculum content that falls under standard Ministry of Education responsibility

Other

• Activities already funded by other agencies (e.g., double-dipping)
• Events without a clear safety or education component

Clearly show the need for your project and the difference it will make.

Applications must show evidence of the drowning risk or risks being addressed, outline the benefits of your initiatives, and explain how you will measure and evaluate the impact. Be specific about the outcomes you plan to achieve, how you’ll track progress, and how you’ll report results.

Your three-year plan helps us understand your direction, your impact, and how we can support you to grow and sustain your mahi over time. Your plan should address the following questions:

• Who are you targeting support to
• How many people are you hoping to engage?
• How could this change over the three-year period?  
• What changes do you intend to make to your programme and what difference will this make?
• Where will other funding come from to support you to have a sustainable programme?
• What does success look like, and what difference are you targeting for the community that you are supporting?
• The key risks that you need to address for your programme to be successful and sustainable.
• How will your organisation measure success each year, and what will this look like in practice?

Collaboration and partnership-based applications are particularly welcome. These should identify a responsible lead organisation for application and accountability purposes.

If you need help submitting your online application, email funding@watersafety.org.nz

We encourage you to apply as early as possible.

Applications open Monday 11 May 2026 and close on Sunday 21 June 2026. Please submit your application between these dates.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Yes. We encourage potential applicants to email us to discuss your project’s fit, especially if this is your first time applying for Water Safety NZ’s community funding.

Email us: funding@watersafety.org.nz

Required documents include:

• A detailed budget
• Financial accounts
• A project plan or timeline
• Proof of legal entity status
• A simple 3-year plan.

No, at this stage, multi-year funding is not yet available. We are exploring options for how this may be able to be implemented in the future.

An expert panel reviews the applications. Final decisions are endorsed by the Board of Water Safety New Zealand and applicants will receive confirmation as soon as possible after this endorsement.

We anticipate confirming successful applicants in mid-August 2026.

Water Safety NZ’s community funding supports projects that are locally led and specifically aim to reduce drowning risks.

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email and may be offered feedback. An opportunity to reapply may be permitted if issues are addressed.

Yes, we expect that you will work in partnership with Water Safety New Zealand to increase awareness, build understanding, and promote (wherever possible) your programme’s delivery in public information collateral, in the media, and on your website and social media channels.

Water Safety New Zealand receives funding from the NZ Lottery Grants Board via Sport New Zealand.

Email us at: funding@watersafety.org.nz