Supporting Communities

Every community deserves to enjoy their waterways safely. By combining robust data analysis with community support and education we can prevent drownings, and build resilient communities where everyone can stay safe and respect the water.

We work with communities and providers to reduce drowning risks. We use data to understand where and why drowning incidents happen and invest in community-led interventions to make the biggest impact.

Family standing by boat all wearing lifejackets

Our focus areas

We focus our efforts where they are needed most — addressing the places, communities, activities, and age groups most at risk to make the greatest impact in reducing drowning. We use data science to understand the real nature of drowning risk. Our focus is on:

High-risk places
High-risk communities
High-risk activities
Better educating young people

Find out more about New Zealand’s highest risk drowning locations. We aim to support communities to identify local risks and lead tailored, long-term solutions to reduce drowning risks. Using 45 years of drowning information, participation data, and community leadership, we’re seeking place-based safety improvements for the long-term.

Investing for impact

Water Safety New Zealand’s funding priorities are targeted to areas where drowning risk can be reduced. Applications for Community Partnership Funding 2025/26 were open between 24 June and 11 July 2025.

Find out more

Improving impact across Aotearoa

We work with others to advocate, provide data analysis, and use our expertise to evaluate and improve water safety programmes. We do this using:

Data-driven assessments

‍Data shows us the problem. Communities show us the solution. We combine our exclusive drowning and expert research to identify high-risk areas, then work with communities to developed tailored interventions that save lives.

Educational engagement

‍We support schools and communities with the tools and knowledge to teach water survival skills. By integrating water survival competence into education, we’re helping to build lifelong awareness and long-term safety practices around water.

See Water Skills for Life™ and Water Skills for Life™ – River.

Research collaboration

‍For anyone interested in contributing to the broader understanding of drowning prevention, Water Safety New Zealand offers opportunities for collaborative research using DrownBase™ and research experts. This database and data science expertise provides invaluable insights into the causes and circumstances of water-related incidents, supporting councils in developing long-term safety strategies.

Ongoing Support and Evaluation

‍Water safety is an ongoing commitment, not a one-off solution. We work closely with councils to provide continued support, including follow-up assessments to evaluate how well safety measures are working and making necessary adjustments based on fresh data and changing environmental conditions.

This ensures your community's water safety measures remain effective and up-to-date.

Funding support

We work with mana whenua, charities, local government, water safety community partners and providers across the aquatic, education, and voluntary sectors. By co-investing in initiatives, we tackle the most significant drowning risks toNew Zealanders. For 75 years, we’ve helped New Zealanders stay safe around water. Thousands of Kiwis have gained essential water skills through our nationwide networked of trusted providers – because every life saved matters.

Thanks to Partner Support

This funding is possible thanks to Sport New Zealand, ACC, and the Lotteries Grants Board extending their support for another year.

Investment supporting community partners

Applications for Water Safety New Zealand Community Partnership Funding opened on 24 June 2025.

In 2025/26 there are two funding priorities for groups most at risk and over-represented in drowning statistics, and groups under-represented in current water safety education efforts.

Find out more about Community Funding 2025/26

Funded programmes 2024/25

Providers who delivered on agreed results through the 2023/24 community initiatives funds were invited to extend existing arrangements – with re-negotiated criteria. This change responded to significant uncertainties in our funding environment.

More detail on funded programmes 2024/25

Funded programmes 2023/24

In the 2022/2023 year we received 67applications for funding support, seeking $4,269,445. Of these, 39 programmes were prioritised with the $2,067,530 available.

More detail on funded programmes 2023/24