Lifejacket hubs keep water safety education afloat

 

Lifejackets and lifejacket education will be more accessible for Auckland’s Pacific community with the establishment of a chain of ‘lifejacket hubs’ at six South Auckland Pacific churches this week.

Each church will manage a stock of ten lifejackets providing them with the opportunity to not only offer the lifejackets, but in partnership with WaterSafe Auckland (WAI), provide essential and practical lifejacket education to members of their congregation, and in doing so, minimise the risks involved.

The aims of the scheme are threefold: to increase the number of Pacific peoples wearing lifejackets when boating or fishing; raise awareness about the benefits of wearing lifejackets; and increase the practical knowledge, skills and awareness of safer practices.

More than 30 church ministers, elders and youth will participate in a practical in-water lifejacket session at Mangere’s Moana-Nui-ā-Kiwa pool on Thursday afternoon [5pm-6pm] followed by a ‘lifejacket handover’ and ceremony at the Free Church of Tonga in Favona Road, commencing at 7pm.

As part of the ceremony a special viewing of ‘There Will Be Another Day’ Pacific water safety DVD will be held. By Pacific, for Pacific, the DVD features Mariposa Mariner, Solomone and Eileen Vainikolo, and Amohia Afeake, all sharing their personal stories of survival in the hope that others may learn from their experiences. Copies of the DVD will be available free of charge.

The establishment of lifejacket hubs has been made possible by the support of the Working Together More Fund, and The Southern Trust who enabled us to purchase the lifejackets. This is the second set of lifejacket funded by the Trust, we thank them for their continued commitment to preventing drowning in our communities.

We look forward to establishing further lifejacket hubs across Auckland.

-Ends-

For more information or interviews contact.

Jonny Gritt

CEO

WaterSafe Auckland

Ph 09 306 0809
Email jonny.gritt@watersafe.org.nz