Archived News

TV3 Campbell Live - Why are kiwis such bad swimmers?

14 February 2008

Matt Claridge, Water Safety New Zealand General Manager appeared on the TV3 Campbell Live programme.

To view the story on TV3's website please click here

TV3 Sunrise - La Nina weather means extra care needed in water

31 January 2008

Matt Claridge, Water Safety New Zealand General Manager appeared on the TV3 Sunrise programme.

To view the interview on TV3's website please click here

October 2007

Whangarei based company, The Kauriland Group Ltd, are getting behind an attempt to lift the level of water safety awareness and skills of Northland’s primary school children.

The Kauriland Swim For Life Challenge will take place on Friday 12th October at the revamped Whangarei Aquatic Centre. Along with national celebrity Pio Terei, presenters from the What Now children’s TV show and Water Safety Ambassador Rob Hewitt, 200 local school children will get to experience swim and survival skills, river safety and snorkelling throughout a day designed to be both fun and instructive.

An official launch of the Kauriland sponsored event will be held at 11.30 at the Whanagrei Aquatic Centre, Eweing Road, Whangarei.

For further information contact Chris Robinson, Water Safety New Zealand 021 0278 0210

World Aquatics Babies Congress 2007

September 2007

The format for presentations includes Keynote (60 minutes), Showcase (45 minutes) and Workshop (45 minutes). Keynote and Showcase presentations will be made to the full conference delegation. Workshop sessions will run concurrently in streams of three. All Keynote speakers will present a follow up Workshop to extend their presentation.

A unique component of the WABC 2007 New Zealand will be the inclusion of Panel Discussions on two topical subjects; The Business of Infant Swimming and Submersion. Both of these Panel’s will be chaired by world renowned baby swimming leader Dave Dubois.

A variety of international education courses are available as optional add-ons to the conference registration. These courses will run in the days preceding the conference (4-5 October 2007). Take advantage of this chance to see what kind of training teachers in others countries are exposed to, and expand your knowledge in the process.

To view the programme and register to attend the congress visit http://www.wabc2007.org.nz/programme.html

Home Pool Fencing Survey 2007

May 2007

Survey of local authorities regarding compliance with and enforcement of the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987: A Replication.

Read Research Report  (166K)

AUSTSWIM INF

May 2007

Following the successful New Zealand Infants & Early Childhood Aquatics roadshow in July last year Water Safety New Zealand will facilitate two more courses in 2007.

Feedback from the Roadshow has emphasised the value of the AUSTSWIM resource along with the need for teachers of children in this age group to be kitted with the necessary skills and knowledge to affect a positive, meaningful experience for child, parent and family.

The format will be similar to previous courses with two pool sessions, one each day of the programme as well as a theoretical exam at the conclusion of the second day. The remaining requirements to complete the qualification will be WSNZ citing a valid First Aid certificate and the successful completion of the Practical Assessment.

The cost of the course will remain at $130 (including GST) and will run in the following areas:

• Auckland – Completed

• Wellington – Completed

• Christchurch – Completed

Please see the Enrolment Form for registration details:

Enrolment Form  (131K)

Please contact Pip from Water Safety New Zealand by email or phone 03 382 3048 for further information.

World Aquatics Babies Congress 2007

6 – 8 October 2007

Te Papa, Wellington

Water Safety New Zealand is extremely pleased to announce that registrations for the World Aquatic Babies Congress (WABC) 2007 are now open.

This will be the first time that New Zealand has hosted this event, which is set to be the most important gathering of infant aquatics professionals for the year.

Over 27 International Speakers will combine to ensure that three days of lectures, workshops and panel discussions will provide one of the greatest professional development opportunities for swim teachers in New Zealand ever. An action packed programme, experienced speakers and innovative/new topics will be complimented by an array of networking opportunities to ensure even the most experienced teacher/programmer or academic is challenged and inspired.

Keynote presentations include:

• “The Baby Signs® Program: A Communication Revolution Helping Babies ‘Talk’ Before They Can Talk”
  Dr Linda Acredolo (USA)

• “Early Infant Reflexes, Their Purpose and How They Affect Early Water Experiences”
  Gill Connell (NZ)

• “Baby Breathing Control and Underwater Orientation - Age, Time of Practice and Program”
  Carlos Santos (Portugal)

Other presentations include:

• “A Historical Perspective and Innovations to Teaching Aquatics to Babies Downunder”
  Kirk Marks (AUS)

• “Strategies with Kids, Information for Parents (SKIP)”
  Sarah Scott (NZ)

• “Water Parenting in the 21st Century: Looping the Loop of Cultural Evolution”
  Dr Francoise Freedman (UK)

• “Birth Experience and Infant Aquatics”
  Kelly Rae (AUS)

• “Reading Baby”
  Julie Zancanaro (AUS)

Please see www.wabc2007.org.nz for more information.

Worser Bay Surf Life Saving Club Gets Helping Hand

March 2007

WBSLSC are running open ocean swims which will help them fund raise the money to replace stolen properties. Swim For Life are helping with donating prizes and giving support to the Surf Club. The first ocean swim was held on Sunday 25 February, which attracted 50 swimmers. The oldest swimmers achieving the 1300 metre course was husband and wife duo Ron and Leslie Parkin from Horowhenua Masters Swim Club. The youngest swimmer achieving the distance was nine year old Breanna Ward. A number of swimmers stated that it was a great event and congratulated Worser Bay Surf Life Saving Club on their organisation.

Ian Greenwood, club President and event organiser stated “It’s great to run the event again. The last time it was run was in 2003. The achievement of 9 year old Breanna Ward is what the event is all about. It was a fantastic effort. I hope her swim inspired more young people to participate in the second swim on 25 March 2007”

The next ocean swim will be on Sunday 25 March 2007. The club is also looking at running a 200 metre Swim For Life^® challenge for children.

For more information:

Read the Programme Flyer  (11K)

Complete the Registration Form  (79K)

New Zealand Fire Service - "Staying Alive Expo"

February 2007

On 8th - 10th March 2007 Manfield Park near Fielding will be the place to visit. The Western Fire Region in conjunction with the United Fire Brigades Association are hosting the National Fire Service Waterway and Fire-fighters challenges.

As part of this programme a “Staying Alive Expo” is planned. The theme for this expo is “Are You Prepared”. The expo consists of an Education programme aimed primarily at schools from Year 1 through to High School. The education programme will take place on Thursday 8th & Friday 9th March with a Family/Open day on Saturday 10th March.

Approximately 40 schools throughout the Manawatu-Wanganui region will be bringing 2,500 children.

The public are invited to visit the expo on the Saturday, when cars will be dropped from cranes, helicopter rescues and fire fighting displays and people extracted from crashed vehicles. There will be displays and demonstrations from all the organisations involved, including Water Safety New Zealand, ACC, Child Youth and Family, the Army and Air Force, MidCentral Health, Civil Defence, Students Against Drunk Driving and Police.

The House of Hazards will be one of the exhibitions at the Expo. It is being lined and fitted out to be safe for visitors, looking like a normal home with a garden and letterbox, but will demonstrate fire, trip, fall and supervision around bath time and other hazards. One room will be fitted with sprinklers. Visiting children will be invited to identify the hazards and enter a draw to win a bike.

About 11am Saturday 10th March the house will be set alight and put out by fire-fighters to demonstrate the efficiency of sprinklers, and the damage caused.

Click here to read the flyer (2.3MB) or click on the logo to visit the Staying Alive website.

February 2007

Calling for expression of interest in attending an ACC RiverSafe® Professional Development Day.

One third of all drownings in New Zealand occur in rivers, streams and creeks and, unlike surf beaches and public pools, there are no agencies responsible for rescue in rivers.

For communities where young people use rivers the need for river safety education is vital. Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) and ACC have developed the RiverSafe® programme for schools.

The key concept behind the programmes is ‘safe participation in river based aquatic activities’.

WSNZ are aware that not all teachers who are EOTC leaders in schools have the experience and confidence to lead river-based activities. Consequently, we have developed a one day professional development course for school physical education teachers and / or teachers in charge of EOTC activities for teachers to:

Become familiar with the approach and content of the ACC RiverSafe® programme;

Identify issues surrounding safety and supervision of students engaged in EOTC activities in rivers and ways to address these issues;

Participate in a river based activity run by an accredited ACC RiverSafe® provider and evaluate that experience as a participant and as an experience their school could offer students.

Teacher relief day funding will be provided.

At this stage the training is only being offered to teachers in the Bay of Plenty region with venues in Tauranga and Rotorua. Tentative dates for the Professional Development are late April 2007 – dates to be confirmed.

Places are limited to 60 teachers so please register your interest in attending with by emailing info@riversafe.org.nz, please include your school, position and contact details.

WEET-BIX and Water Safety New Zealand Address Learn to Swim Issue

February 2007
The rising issue of learning to swim in New Zealand has been recognised by WEET-BIX, the organiser of the world’s largest sporting events for kids, the WEET-BIX Tryathlon. The WEET-BIX Tryathlon series begins with the first of eight events on the 11th of February in Hamilton before wrapping up in Devonport on the 1st of April.
Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) are proud to partner with WEET-BIX in an effort to address the concerning status of children learning to swim in New Zealand. WEET-BIX is a major Partner involved with the Swim For Life initiative.
Read Media Release  (47K)

Water Safety New Zealand and RFD Partnership Agreement

Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) and RFD are pleased to announce the signing of a partnering agreement.

The agreement will allow for member organisations and other education providers including schools, that are aligned with WSNZ initiatives, to source quality buoyancy aids and life jackets at extremely generous discounted prices.

At the signing Alan Muir, Executive Director, WSNZ commented that ‘RFD is recognised as a world leader for the supply of marine safety and survival equipment. To be able to work with an organisation of such stature and who are prepared to offer this type of support will help to achieve the types of changes in our community needed to develop an improved safety culture in and around aquatic environments’.

Eamonn Bicknell, General Manager, RFD New Zealand Ltd is similarly excited by the partnership ‘The opportunity to support the work of WSNZ is another way our organisation can have a positive impact on the community and ultimately save lives’.

WSNZ are currently developing promotional material containing full details of the range of products and eligibility to source at the discounted prices.  Click on the RFD logo for more details.

RiverSafe EOTC Supervision Guidelines

November 2006
Supervision of ACC RiverSafe activities and other EOTC activities in, on or near rivers.
This document outlines issues involved in supervising RiverSafe activities, whether they are led by teachers or an ACC RiverSafe provider. It explores supervision and responsibility issues when a school contracts an ACC RiverSafe, or other, EOTC provider.

Visit the Resources page to download the Guidelines

Coroners Hearing

October 2006
Water Safety New Zealand and New Zealand Recreation Association PoolSafe Incident Review was submitted as evidence in a Coroners Inquest into the drowning of a three year old boy at the Waingaro Hot Springs in 2002.  The following article is written by Simon O'Rouke from the New Zealand Herald.
Read Article >>

October 2006
Water Safety New Zealand continues its partnership with What Now! on this year’s show with the “Bring it on” River Challenge. Eight teams will compete over a water safety confidence course on the Ashley Gorge River, North Canterbury.
Keep watching What Now! on TV2, Sunday morning beginning on 15th October 2006.

Be WaterWise Programmes

September 2006
Water Safety New Zealand has developed a new series of classroom learning resources for primary students. The learning programmes can be downloaded from our website. 
Read More>>

A Manual For Sea Kayaking

Outdoor Activities - Guidelines for Leaders

This resource outlines current, accepted practice for running a wide variety of outdoor activities. The guidelines aim to assist outdoor leaders, whether volunteer or employed instructors, teachers, youth group leaders club trip leaders or guides, to provide quality outdoor experiences for participants. Governors, managers and participants of outdoor programmes may also find the guidelines useful.  

Outdoor Activities – Guidelines for Leaders is presented in two sections. Section A contains general guidelines that are applicable to all activities while Section B contains specific guidelines for some 42 outdoor activities.

You can Download a copy from SPARC's website or

Complete the Form (201K) and send with your payment of $20 to Outdoors New Zealand.

Introduction to Safe Boating & Safe Boating

Safe Boating DVD

Take Five Safety NZ Week - 13-19 August 2006

Every week over 2,000 kiwis are seriously hurt in accidents that could have been avoided.  Safety NZ Week is about encouraging New Zealanders to be more aware of safety issues so that we can reduce the number and severity of injuries. 

NZ Community Trust Kiwi Kapers - 11 August 2006

This annual education concert by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra at the Aotea Centre will this year focus on music and water safety. Pio will be the MC and the concert will feature some key Swim For Life® water safety messages.

Maritime Day at Vauxhall School

Kei Hea Rā a Rapa Raki?

A popular Water Safety New Zealand resource book "Where is Rubber Duckee?" is now available in Te Reo Māori. 

"Kei Hea Rā a Rapa Raki?" is best suited for reading to tamariki aged 4-8 years. 

To order your free limited copy of this story book complete our Order Form >>

PIO!

 Nau mai, haere mai e Pio!

Water Safety New Zealand would like to welcome Pio Terei on board our waka. Pio already appears in Safe Fishing posters and will soon feature in new information and resources on staying safe in, near and on the water. His latest show ‘Tangaroa’ sees him enjoying the waters of Aotearoa alongside local Maori who share their stories and traditions of the sea. If you’re into real fishing and gathering kaimoana, then hook on to the Tangaroa series on Sundays at 8.00pm on Maori TV.

Water Safety Websites
Water Safety New Zealand has re launched its three water safety websites.  Click on the links below to have a look.

BoatSafe®	www.boatsafe.org.nz
PoolSafe®	www.poolsafe.org.nz
RiverSafe®	www.riversafe.org.nz

Water Safety Report
A new report shows pre-schoolers have an alarmingly high rate of drowning in New Zealand and despite tougher laws on pool fencing, most still drown in unfenced pools at home.

The report Circumstances surrounding drowning in those under 25 years in New Zealand (1980-2002) was released today by the Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee (CYMRC) and Water Safety New Zealand. 

Media Release  (92K)

Report (277K)

Swim For Life Survivor Water Safety Challenge
Keep watching What Now on TV2 every Sunday during November 2005 ...  This awesome challenge involves survival swimming, rescue, snorkelling, diving, and obstacle courses.  PLUS WIN PRIZES!!  Log on to www.whatnow.tv