2023 DROWNING FATAILITIES TO DATE
80
The provisional fatal drowning total for 2023 year to date is 80.
Note: This includes six drowning deaths due to Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR
80
At the same time last year there had been 80 drownings recorded in the 2022 calendar year.
2022 / 23 SUMMER DROWNINGS
49
There have been 49 official drownings to date in the 2022 / 23 summer period.
Note: This includes six drowning deaths due to Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023.
2022 DROWNING FATALITIES
94
There were 94 official preventable drowning fatalities in the 2022 calendar year.
MALE DROWNINGS
85%
As a gender split, 84.95% of 2022 drowning fatalities were male. 15.05% were female.
2021 DROWNING FATALITIES
91
There were 91 official preventable drowning fatalities in the 2021 calendar year.
Current Numbers
Last updated 02/12/2023 1900
2021 Drowning Report
91 Fatalities
In 2021 there were 91 recreational (intending to be in the water) and non-recreational (no intention of being in the water) preventable drowning fatalities. This is a per 100,000 population rate of 1.76, up from the five year average of 1.67. Preventable fatalities in 2021 increased by 7% on 2020 (84) and 13% on the five year average (80). 2021 had the highest number of preventable drowning deaths since 2011.
Highest Risk
Older Males 55+
In 2021, Maori, Asian and NZ European drowning deaths of males aged 55+ were the highest numbers on record. Older males fatalities and incidents occur largely when boating. It is more likely to be powered boating than sail, oar or paddlecraft. The people involved are more likely to be NZ European and live in the upper North Island.
Youth at Risk
Rivers
25% of young New Zealanders think that rivers are “not very hazardous” or “not at all hazardous”. River fatalities are commonly 15-34 years of age, but incidents show a large amount between 9-14 years. There are a high number of river incidents during the summer and Waitangi Day is the day of the year that the most incidents occur.
Underwater
Kai Gathering
Usually Maori, always male, with an average age around 40. Can be anywhere around the coast of NZ. Typically they are free diving or snorkelling. SCUBA is relatively uncommon.
Kai Gathering
Rock Fishing
Usually male, often Asian, average age 45, and often living in Auckland or the Waikato. Typically they are at the beach (salt water), fishing from rocks, often as part of a group. Then they are swept away by a wave or fall off a rock into the water, cannot get back to land, and drown. Often they are not competent swimmers. Almost inevitably they do not have a life jacket.
Our Promise
We pledge to use data-driven insights in all aspects of our organisation.
New Zealand has a high fatal drowning rate compared to other Western nations such as Australia, Canada and the UK. For the past ten years our rate has been 1.7 per 100,000 of population and in 2020 is 1.62. In comparison, Australia's per capita rate is 1.1 and Canada's 1.3.
Current Numbers
2023 DROWNING FATAILITIES TO DATE
14
There have been 14 official drownings to date in 2023. This number is updated weekly.
2022 DROWNING FATALITIES
93
There were 93 official preventable drowning fatalities in the 2022 calendar year.
2023 SUMMER DROWNINGS
14
There have been 14 official drownings to date in the 2023 summer period.
2021 DROWNING FATALITIES
90
There were 90 official preventable drowning fatalities in the 2021 calendar year.
MALE DROWNINGS
85%
As a gender split, 84.95% of 2022 drowning fatalities were male. 15.05% were female.
2020 DROWNING FATALITIES
84
There were 84 official preventable drowning fatalities in the 2021 calendar year.
Current Trends and Metrics
Data Requests
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