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Maori
Kia Maanu, Kia Ora! Stay Afloat Stay Alive!
Nga Mihi
E nga mana e nga reo tenei te mihi ki a koutou. Ko ratou ma nga tupuna i hoea mai te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, e mihi ana ki a ratou. Ko tatou nga kanohi ora o ratou ma, e kore tatou e ngaro he kakano i ruia mai i Rangiatea.
Maori Water Safety
Whilst the number of drownings in New Zealand is decreasing overall, the number of Maori drowning is steadily increasing.
Statistics show that Maori are twice as likely to drown as non-Maori.
Maori make up approximately 15% of New Zealand’s population yet account for 22% of all drownings over past 6 years.
Why the disparity? WSNZ believes the reason for this is that the key water safety messages that WSNZ and other affiliated organisations are championing are either not reaching, or are being ignored by Maori.
It is now obvious that to effect real change Maori must taking ownership of this serious threat to their people.
WSNZ has established a specific Maori Water Safety strategy including the development of both educational resources and public awareness initiatives.
These include:
- The development of a Maori Water Safety teachers Education Kit for Kohanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Maori and mainstream schools with an affiliated Maori unit.
- Use of Maori role models in the delivery of water safety messages targeting Maori audiences.
- The development of new printed material for distribution, targeting specific groups within the Maori communities.
Maori Water Safety Educational Resources
WSNZ Partnership with Te Puni Kokiri
In October 2009 WSNZ signed a partnership with Te Puni Kokiri that will focus on developing long term sustainable water safety programmes within Māori communities.
Initially the agreement will facilitate local iwi and community based delivery in 4 regions that have been identified as ‘most at risk’. Activity is scheduled to begin as follows:
- 2010 – Waikato and Northland
- 2011 – Gisborne/East Coast and BOP
Further information on progress with regard implementation of this strategy will be posted on this site.