Northern Arena launches the 2013 Manuka Doctor Water Babies initiative. Free swimming lessons for over 1200 New Zealand babies

Silverdale’s Northern Arena, in conjunction with Manuka Doctor’s ApiTherapy range, are offering a term of free swimming lessons to 1200 infants and toddlers under the age of three, for the second year in a row.

In 2012, Manuka Doctor funded a joint initiative with Northern Arena, which allowed 904 infants and toddlers to receive a free term of swimming at Northern Arena Learn to Swim School, Silverdale, Auckland. The response to the sponsored lessons was overwhelming, with all spaces for free lessons being filled within 2 days of the promotion opening.

“Teaching children to learn to swim is about them being safe around water. Hopefully with the help of Manuka Doctor Water Babies we have educated parents and taught infants the skills to save themselves and potentially other lives in the future.” says Northern Arena Director Matthew Saunders.

Sponsors of the initiative Manuka Doctor says, “We are delighted to work alongside Northern Arena, to be
proactive in the community, and provide a positive family experience in a safe environment”.

“We have really appreciated the opportunity provided to so many young children under the present scheme and enjoy watching the young ones gaining confidence in the water week by week.” John and Sue Wallace

“Thank you so much, we have been so happy with the lessons so far, and your facilities are fabulous.” Jessica Down

“What a generous donation from Manuka Doctor for such a great cause. All babies should learn to be safe in our waters.” Nicola Edser

“My darling girl loved her first swimming lesson ‐ thank you so much Northern Arena & Manuka Doctor!” Evana Patterson

Northern Arena is delighted to announce that Manuka Doctor have not only agreed to sponsor the initiative again in 2013, but to increase its funding to $125,000, which will allow over 1200 infant and toddlers, under the age of three a term of free swimming lessons.

“We are delighted that Manuka Doctor are continuing their support in 2013 and look forward to working with them again to provide more infants and toddlers with such a valuable life skill” says Saunders
Knowing that New Zealand is among the worst in the Developed World for its’ drowning statistics, Manuka Doctor and Northern Arena agreed a continuous effort is required to make a change.

Marketing Manager Justin Byrne states that New Zealanders “she’ll be alright” attitude is crippling and needs to change. “Attitudes toward learning to swim need to change. There needs to be a cultural shift and Manuka Doctor Water Babies is a much‐needed move considering our
country’s drowning statistics.”

Director Matthew Saunders and his team at Northern Arena are teaching children to learn to swim, to be safe around water and gain an understanding of how to save themselves and potentially others, “It is great that this year we are able to provide even more parents and babies with this vital opportunity.”

Three times Olympian, parent and Northern Arena Head of Swimming Dean Kent agrees, “Learning to swim isn’t just an activity it’s, especially in New Zealand, an essential life skill. As a parent, learning to swim is an activity I view as just as important for my son Connor as learning to read and write.”

Existing swim school members will have priority on booking; spaces are limited and will fill fast. Bookings for the Manuka Doctor Water Babies program open July 1st, 2013 for the start of term three July 29th. A mailing list has been set up to manage the demand and give as many parents as possible the opportunity to take advantage of the Manuka Doctor Water Babies initiative, see www.northernarena.co.nz for more information.