Drownings this year a cause for concern

New Zealanders are urged to take care in the water, following a recent drowning off Wellington's Houghton Bay.

Professor David Gerrard, Chair of the New Zealand Drowning Prevention Council, says the latest death takes the total number of drownings this year to 41, compared with 38 at the same time last year.

“Our water safety habits have been improving, reflected by an overall decline in drownings over the past 10 years. But the disturbing trend so far this year threatens to undo the good progress we’ve been making.”

Professor Gerrard says that despite the general fall in drownings since 2001, New Zealand still has a comparatively high drowning rate, and we can’t afford to become complacent when it comes to water safety.

“Drowning remains the third leading cause of unintentional death in New Zealand. Our drowning toll per head of population is more than twice that of Australia, and each year around 650 people are hospitalised in New Zealand as a result of water-related injury.”

The Drowning Prevention Council has adopted an action plan aimed at reducing drownings, by better coordinating the resources and activities of the key water safety agencies.

“We have the data to identify at-risk groups, and the knowledge to recognise environmental and other risk factors. But we need to work harder to educate New Zealanders about the risks associated with the water, and how they can reduce those risks. New Zealanders need to play their part, too, by taking safety messages onboard and making a commitment to follow them.”

Simple tips on how to stay safe in the water are set out in the New Zealand Water Safety Code, available at www.adventuresmart.org.nz

Members of the Drowning Prevention Council include ACC, Maritime New Zealand, Royal New Zealand Coastguard, Surf Lifesaving New Zealand, Watersafe Auckland and Water Safety New Zealand, along with Maori representation.