2012 Annual Report

This past year has been one of significant change for Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ). At the end of 2011, Alan Muir, Executive Director, resigned after more than 20 years of service. Alan can be very proud of his significant contribution to the development of Water Safety nationally. In December 2011 Dave Henderson resigned after many years service on the WSNZ Board, and at that time Alan Warner stood aside as Chair of WSNZ, with the intention of resigning from the Board at the 2012 Annual General Meeting.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank these three for the many years they devoted to water safety and the prevention of drowning; their contribution and commitment over the years has been constant and highly valued.

In April 2012 the Board was pleased to appoint Matt Claridge as Chief Executive. Matt has been with WSNZ since 2004 and has more than a decade’s experience in the swimming and water safety sector.  I am sure that Matt’s leadership will be instrumental in developing initiatives and partnerships that ensure the sector is cohesive and focused on working proactively together to improve water safety for New Zealanders.

For the year ending December 2011, New Zealand sadly recorded an increase in drowning incidents - 131 people drowned during the year. This is the highest annual toll since 2002 and a 51% increase from the 2010 toll of 87. While this calendar year showed an increase, we should not lose sight of the overall improvement achieved over the last three decades. During the 1980s New Zealand averaged 180 fatalities, in the 1990s the average was 145 fatalities, and in the 2000s 120 fatalities. Already in this 2012 calendar year the toll is at 61, an improvement on the same time last year, which stood at 82 fatalities. By continuing to work proactively together the sector can ensure that we continue to encourage New Zealanders to use and enjoy our aquatic environment safely.

WSNZ has continued to prioritise the need for research to inform practice within the sector. It is pleasing that this year marked the completion of the first research project that evolved from WSNZ Research Strategy that was developed by the membership for the membership. The University of Otago released in April the report into Behavioural analysis of human survival characteristics following sudden water immersion. This research has important implications for the development of water safety programmes nationally. I take here the opportunity to record my appreciative thanks to the members of the Research Advisory Group that work behind the scenes.

WSNZ continues to promote a community-based model to ensure maximum involvement within communities across New Zealand. Key highlights over the year have included:

• Regional forums with 1200 participants and 600 organisations collaborating to effectively work together within their community;
• The continuation of 15 regional water safety plans;
• 128,000 children learning to swim as a result of the Sealord Swim for life programme;
• 50,000  bathmats distributed through Plunket to families of new born children.

The contribution of the Water Safety Education Foundation has continued to be extremely important in achieving water safety outcomes for the community particularly in the learn to swim and survive arena and through the Sealord Swim for Life initiative.

The ongoing commitment of our corporate partners has been a valuable support to the provision of water safety initiatives. I would like to thank Sealord, New Zealand Post, TVNZ and Regional Sports Trusts (for Kiwisport funding) for their considerable support over the year, and look forward to these partnerships continuing into the future.

Over this last year there have been two significant reports that will have an impact on the water safety sector. The main aim of the Isaac Report on Swim and Survive was to look at how a more unified approach can be taken to teaching swim and survival skills, as well as make recommendations on:

1. The specific roles and responsibilities of organisations involved in the delivery of swim and survival skills;
2. Funding processes and approaches;
3. Steps for implementing changes in the water safety sector.

In addition, the Review of Swimming New Zealand – June 2012 recommendations will have bearing specifically on those aspects  of teacher training that are managed by Swimming New Zealand.

The recommendations of both these reviews will impact on the delivery of swim and survive programmes. At the time of writing this report the effect of the recommendations has not been fully worked through, however the Board of WSNZ is committed to responding proactively to the reviews and  we will continue to  take a prominent leadership role within the sector.

This has been, as I said at the beginning, a year of change within WSNZ. I would like to thank my fellow board members John Filsell, John Cowan, Brendon Ward and Alan Warner plus the staff of WSNZ for their continued commitment. Finally I want to acknowledge and thank all of the member organisations for the valuable contribution you make to the water safety. By working together we can continue to fulfill our vision.

Sally Webb, Chairperson

A lot of New Zealanders think drowning is a nice way to die. Nothing could be further from the truth. The effect of drowning on the body is that of a physiological catastrophe. Suffocating underwater is surely not pleasant. It is painful and traumatic.

Unfortunately too many New Zealanders drowned last year. Even worse, too many preschool children had to endure the pain and helplessness of drowning. The answer to our questions like “why did it happen?” and “how?” rest with few. The solution, however, sits with the collective, being the water safety sector and the Membership of Water Safety New Zealand.

Questions must continue to be asked to understand and break down the attitudes that pervade our culture.  Too often, acts of ignorance and being blasé are fatal reminders of the value of water safety education to society.  The balancing medium of legislation presents the opportunity to use the “stick” for curbing behavioral issues. But one thing remains constant, and that is the need for education. We have too much coastline and water frontage to rely on legislation and rescue alone to reduce the drowning toll.

Quite simply, too many opportunities to drown exist in New Zealand. An emphasis on education to shape attitudes and develop the skill and knowledge needed to enjoy the water safely is required.

Our efforts must be as direct as possible, cost effective and of course relevant. These principles must be evident in all initiatives delivered to the community. We must all be accountable, efficient and effective.

A PricewaterhouseCoopers report commissioned by WSNZ identified the cost of providing all primary school children with a minimum of 10 quality swim and survive lessons every year to be in excess of $28 million.  As a fundamental water safety skill, the ability to swim & survive is the first step towards being able to enjoy the water safely. However, with this price tag, who owns the issue? The solution is a partnership based approach. It involves a quest to change attitudes, to deliver better services and programmes but also to mobilise the community into action.

It is my pleasure to present an annual report that highlights some incredible achievements across the sector. Numerous triumphs and successes have been accrued.  Some challenges continue, but invariably these relate to forces such as funding, legislation and clearly defined roles. It has been a momentous year for the Members of WSNZ, with Coastguard Boating Education training 16,347 adult and youth participants in boating courses, Surf Lifesaving NZ educating 30,070 primary and intermediate students in Beach Ed and delivering 204,090 hours of beach patrolling, and New Zealand Outdoor Instructors’ Association developing Canyoning Instructors qualifications and running 25 training and assessor courses.

Of note over the last 12 months has been the emergence of a growing number of relationships with organisations best described as ‘non-traditional’ water safety deliverers.  These include Regional Sports Trusts in particular, who have taken on the mantle of organising the delivery of swim & survive lessons to over 128,000 primary aged children across New Zealand. They have been incredibly successful at generating local funding and support, to build what should be sustainable, enduring programmes. We are thankful for the support of Sealord as the Principal Partner of Swim For Life in enabling the leadership role WSNZ provides.

This year the Kia Maanu Kia Ora initiative ascended to new heights. With the support of New Zealand Post, there are now four regional based programmes developed and delivered by regional organisations as part of a plan to ensure Maori possess the skills and knowledge required to enjoy the water safely. The involvement of Maritime NZ, Te Puni Kokiri and ACC has allowed WSNZ to extend reach significantly, and for their funding and involvement we should all be grateful.

Once again, WSNZ has collaborated with the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (MSC) to produce the River Safety resources for use by schools and community groups. Clearly, working in isolation is not productive and the partnership with MSC optimises resources and reach.

We cannot accept that 131 drowning deaths in a 12 month period at a rate of 2.7 deaths per 100,000 people is reasonable. WSNZ must provide strong leadership to all parts of the water safety sector. The collective ‘we’ must build the water safety culture in the community and enable the timely and effective delivery of programmes to at-risk groups. We must focus on people in programmes benefitting the community.

I must make special mention of our funding partners. The immense support they provide enables WSNZ to make a difference for the community, thank you.

Finally, I would like to convey my personal thanks and appreciation to Alan Muir. Alan led WSNZ through an amazing period of growth and change. His efforts should be appreciated by us all as they have surely benefitted the community.

Matt Claridge, Chief Executive