Staying safe

Keeping little ones safe

Drowning is a leading cause of death in New Zealanders aged under five. It takes only centimetres of water and less than two minutes for your child to drown. Never turn away or leave your child unattended while they are near water.

Preschoolers and young children are one of the most vulnerable groups. In 2024, there were two drowning deaths among pre-schoolers (0 –4 years) and three drowning deaths among school-age children.

Always stay where you can reach your little ones – make sure you can intervene immediately. Don’t shift responsibility for keeping children safe around water to anyone younger than 16 years old.

children aged 0 – 4 years died from drowning in 10-year period 2015 - 2024

children aged 0 – 4 years fatally drown each year on average

10-year fatal drowning rate in children aged 0 - 4 years
‍^*per 100,000

Having fun round all forms of water

Keeping children safe around water doesn’t mean taking the fun out of it. With the right guidance, supervision, and simple safety habits, our tamariki can enjoy pools, beaches, rivers, and even backyard play with confidence. Whether they’re splashing in the shallows or learning to swim, water play can be both safe and exciting.

Common water risks for children

‍Slips and falls – Wet surfaces around pools and water play areas can cause injuries.
‍Unsupervised access – Children wandering near water without an adult can lead to dangerous situations.

‍How to keep children safe

‍Active supervision. Always watch children closely and stay within arm’s reach, especially younger ones.
Water survival skills. Enrol children in age-appropriate water survival lessons to build confidence and ability.
‍Fencing and barriers. Use pool fences, secure gates, and teach clear water safety rules like no running or swimming alone.

Find out more

Water skills for little ones

Let’s foster a culture of safety and awareness, so we reduce drowning and promote lifelong enjoyment of water-based activities and environment.

Water Skills for a Life, developed by Water Safety New Zealand, provides freely available resources aimed at enhancing the quality and focus of aquatic programmes.

Find out more

Explore stories about keeping little ones safe

Children need us to protect them around water

Water Safety New Zealand calls for action on Coroner’s advice

Using Te Reo to prevent under-fives drowning

A Te Reo version of the successful water safety programme SplashSave – the brainchild of Wellington brothers Phil and Richard Waggot - was recently launched to Kohānga Reo kaiako and whānau recently.

My story - accidental drowning at home in September 2019

Hey everyone. So for a start off here's a little about me . My name is Amber, I'm 28 and live in the suburb of Linwood in Christchurch.