This report serves as the formal record of preventable fatal drownings in New Zealand for the year 2021. From 2018 to 2021 the national drowning prevention report was published as online content only. This document is an extract from previously published information. Please email us for more details on this report: wsnz@watersafety.org.nz
Annual drowning totals may change over time. As coronial inquiries are completed, these can influence the official drowning total.
As of May 2025, the annual drowning total for 2021 is 89 fatalities.
Like 2020, there were lockdowns and restrictions of varying levels in New Zealand in 2021. The nationwide lockdown from mid-August to September didn’t have any significant changes to drowning totals that time of year (which has very few deaths on average). December 2021, the beginning of summer and the move to fewer restrictions in the orange level of the traffic light system saw 17 fatalities, almost double December 2020.
Water Safety New Zealand works to raise awareness, educate communities, and promote preventative measures.
