Water Safety New Zealand
works to
raise
awareness,
educate
communites,
and promote
preventative
measures.
As an island nation in the south pacific, enjoying the water is deeply engrained in our DNA. Our ocean, coasts, beaches, lakes and rivers help define us and reflect the people we have become. Water is life and in New Zealand, it’s our way of life.
Through leadership, advocacy and education, Water Safety New Zealand works with water safety sector organisations, individuals and the public to reduce the incidence of drowning and injury in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our work contributes to the reduction in drownings and to a thriving society for individuals, families and communities.
Experiences in, on or around the water are part of what we do and what makes us Kiwi. But sadly drownings and non-fatal drowning incidents are all too common.
By 2025 more people in New Zealand respect the water and have the skills, knowledge and awareness to enjoy it safely.
Through our work:
More people will influence others to have safe experiences in, on or around water.
More people will come to respect the power of water and know their own ability to manage theirs and other’s water experiences.
More babies, toddlers and preschoolers will be nurtured around water by the people they trust.
More school-age children will learn water skills for life.
More young people will be exposed to water skills and pathways to water sports, volunteering and work experiences around water.
More new New Zealanders and visitors to Aotearoa, New Zealand, will adopt the Kiwi culture of being respectful of the water, the conditions and be water-wise.
Water Safety New Zealand provides leadership, advocacy, policy development and funding to the water safety sector.
We are an association of members in the water safety sector with an elected board and recruited management and administration team. It is an incorporated society, with charitable status. The majority of our funding is received from the Lotteries Grants Board via Sport New Zealand for distribution to water safety providers through an annual grants round. Water Safety New Zealand itself is funded by Sport New Zealand while ACC, businesses, trusts, foundations and individuals support specific initiatives and programmes.
New Zealanders have a special connection with the water. To help us celebrate our 75 years, we'd love to hear your stories. Help us piece together what 75 years of respecting and enjoying the water means to you 👋
The Prevent Drowning Publicity Campaign in summer 1949/1950 was New Zealand's first national focus on water safety.
The Committee included representatives from the Department of Internal Affairs, the National Committee of Swimming and Life Saving, the Education Department, the Department of Health, and the Prime Minister’s Department. 💸
The Council was a reconstituted form of the National Committee of Swimming and Life Saving.
The council co-ordinated the publicity of the Prevent Drowning Committee and sought to integrate the work of the Amateur Swimming Association, Royal Life Saving Society, and the New Zealand Surf Life Saving Association, into a ‘National Scheme.' 💸
The Act was highly effective at preventing child deaths in swimming pools. It prescribed that swimming pools must be surrounded with fences with self-closing access points. This is an effective means of preventing children from drowning in swimming pools because it requires no further intervention from a pool owner provided that the fence itself is compliant. 💸
Developed in 1994, DrownBase™ is a comprehensive database, which has evolved into an indispensable tool for informing water safety strategies and saving lives.
The comprehensive database holds all drowning incidents since 1980 and water-related hospitalisations since 2003, as well as ACC injury data and New Zealand Search and Rescue data.
One of the key advancements powered by DrownBase™ is the identification of Drowning Blackspots – areas where fatal drownings are disproportionately high.
New Zealand's ten blackspots were released for the first time in 2023 Drowning Prevention Report.
Wai Ora Aotearoa Strategy 2025 - New Zealand’s Water Safety Sector Strategy, commits sector partners, to continue to work together towards common goals with greater impact and efficiency. As the lead agency of the sector strategy, Water Safety New Zealand, led by our board continues to drive the strategy’s implementation.
Water Safety New Zealand provides leadership, advocacy, policy development and funding to the water safety sector.
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Browse the archive of Water Safety New Zealand annual reports, AGM minutes, and other important governance documents. These files serve as the official records of performance for our organisation as per our constituion.
Latest news, media, and quick reads related to staying safe from Water Safety New Zealand.
As of May 2025, Daniel Gerrard has left Water Safety New Zealand. We are grateful for Daniel’s bold and passionate leadership of our organisation over the past four years.
Our team are passionate water lovers, experts in their field and committed to making a difference.
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Water Safety New Zealand works to raise awareness, educate communities, and promote preventative measures.
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