The Issue

Every New Zealander that cannot swim is like a baby in the water and at increased risk of drowning.

New Zealand has a huge coastline, and numerous lakes, rivers and waterways in which to enjoy recreational activities in and on the water.  Our way of life means we try to take advantage of all opportunities to enjoy these outdoor environments, whether it is as part of organised activity, sport, fun, or relaxation.  But without the core life skill of swimming, New Zealanders do not possess the most fundamental skill to use and enjoy the water safely.

Competency

  • New Zealanders are losing the ability to swim
  • In 2008, only 1 in 5 10-year-olds in New Zealand children can swim 200m freestyle breathing correctly – the benchmark for being able to swim and survive – and only half can swim 25m
  • For 12-year-olds, only 2 in 5 can swim 200m and 30% can’t swim 25m

Source: AC Nielsen, Investigating Issues Relating to School Student Swimming & Water Safety Skills, 2008 | AC Nielsen, Assessing Student Swimming and Aquatic Skills, 2002

Professional Development

  • Despite school being where most children learn to swim, no teacher trainee is required to learn or be given the skills to teach swimming
  • Teacher trainee requirements for learn to swim are only an optional half-day theory course.

Source: Moran K; New Zealand Youth Water Safety Survey 2003: A Report on Youth Water Safety Activity for Water Safety New Zealand.

Infrastructure

  • In some parts of New Zealand, there aren’t enough adequate pool facilities for all children to learn to swim
  • 323 school pools closed between 2001 and 2008
  • There are 1578 school pools in New Zealand – but many are just 14m long and only 1m deep, which is not suitable for teaching older children

Source: Ministry of Education | Ministry of Education

Curriculum

  • The 2008 education curriculum no longer required that children be given the life skill of learning to swim
  • Prior to this, the curriculum stipulated: “It is expected that all students will have had opportunities to learn fundamental aquatic skills by the end of year 6.”

Source: New Zealand Curriculum; 2008 | Health and Physical Education in the New Zealand Curriculum; 1999

The Economic Cost

  • Drowning is the third highest cause of unintentional death in New Zealand
  • On average, 120 people die each year, representing a cost of $402 million i.e. 114 x $3.35m (life value)
  • On average, there are 414 aquatic injury cases hospitalised each year, costing $25.2 million

Source: DrownBase™; Water Safety New Zealand | The social cost of road crashes and injuries 2008 update; Ministry of Transport | ACC Entitlement Data 08