NZ on track for one of the deadliest summers in the water in 2022

Tuesday, 4 January 2022

Stay away from rocks and rips at the beach over summer, surf lifesavers say. (Video first published in November 2019.)

Three separate drownings in one day puts New Zealand on track for an “incredibly devastating” summer in the water.

The latest tragedies on Tuesday included a drowning at Wenderholm Regional Park in Auckland, a death in Ngāruawāhia and the loss of a child at Kai Iwi Lakes in Northland.

Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Daniel Gerrard said the country was now on track for one of the worst summers of water fatalities on record.

Tuesday’s deaths put the death toll at 27 – already passing the 25 fatalities for each of the previous two summers, and there were still almost two months to go in this season.

* Calls to close swimming beach after four drown in the Manawatū River

* Search continues for woman and child missing in Manawatū River

Water Safety New Zealand advisor Rob Hewitt has been considering the factors that have led to people’s deaths in the water this year. (File photo)

There seemed to be no pattern to the constant stream of deaths since the beginning of December.

“Every drowning is an absolute tragedy and there are so many factors at play. We really need to stop and look at what’s going on,” Gerrard said.

“It’s every demographic, every culture, every age group, every activity in every environment,” he said. “It’s just crazy and incredibly devastating for all New Zealanders, I’m sure.”

Water Safety New Zealand says there seems to be no pattern to the constant stream of deaths since the beginning of December.

WSNZ’s Māori spokesman, Rob Hewitt, said most drownings came broadly under three categories – swimmers at rivers, divers, and people swimming at beaches.

He noted that several of the fatalities over the holiday period related to swimmers going to the rescue and the rescuer getting in trouble themselves.

Local iwi member Jason Hina endorses the message of the signs warning people not to swim in the Manawatū River at Ahimate Park, the site of four drownings in a week.

Hot holiday weather had also been driving people into the water, too often with fatal consequences.

Hewitt said climate change could be a factor in increasing people’s need to seek water to cool down.

“We understand what climate change is doing, and it’s driving whānau members to the water – whether that’s the river, lake or ocean.”

The Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter crew train using the Hi-Line technique and winch with Abel Tasman Sea Shuttle vessel Innovator in Tasman Bay, near Abel Tasman National Park.

WSNZ said six drowning deaths were officially recorded from the beginning of the holiday period at 4pm on December 24 to the end of the year and there had been several since.

Stuff calculated the total number of holiday water-related fatalities at 13 as of Tuesday evening including a man still missing (the WSNZ holiday period ends at 6am on Wednesday).

Another person remained in critical condition after an early morning incident at a Masterton school pool on Monday and a man drowned at Cape Palliser in Wairarapa on Christmas Eve just before the official holiday period started.

The average number of drowning deaths over the holiday period of the previous five years was 6.4, according to WSNZ figures.

December’s toll was horrendous with 20 people dying in water related incidents - over double the national average for that month over the previous five years.

Within the space of four hours, three people died in water-related incidents on Boxing Day.

Last year’s water death toll was 74, the same as the previous year.

Over the past five years, the 15- to 24-year-old age bracket accounted for the highest number of deaths, with an average of 12.5 every year. Men made up over 85 per cent of fatal drownings this year.

Holiday drowning deaths

Three people died on Boxing Day. A 30-year-old man drowned at Karioitahi in Auckland’s south, a man drowned at Waiwera Beach north of Auckland and a woman died following a water-related incident at Waikanae Beach in Kāpiti.

Two people, a woman and a girl, drowned in the Manawatū River on Wednesday, Dec 29

A diver drowned at Te Araroa on the East Coast and was discovered on Thursday, Dec 30

Two men drowned in the Manawatū River on Sunday, Jan 2

A diver drowned off the North Canterbury Coast on Monday, Jan 3

A man is missing after jumping into the Waikato River on Monday, Jan 3

A person drowned at Wenderholm Region Park in Auckland, a child died at Kai Iwi Lakes in Northland and a there was drowning death at Ngāruawāhia on Tuesday.

Non-fatal drowning incidents

A man was pulled from a Masterton swimming pool unconscious on Monday morning and remained in critical condition.

A person was in serious condition after a non-fatal drowning incident at Tāhunanui, Nelson on Friday Dec 31.

A kite surfer saved a drowning woman in Raglan on Boxing Day

Key water safety tips

Be prepared. Check the weather forecast, marine conditions; know the local environment, safe swimming spots; set rules for safe play; use safe and well-maintained equipment.
Look out for yourself and others. Always supervise children around water and keep kids under five within arm’s reach. Never swim alone. Swim between the flags at the beach and make sure everyone on board the boat is wearing a well-fitted lifejacket.
Be aware of the dangers. The water will be cold. If it’s a surf beach, it’s a rip beach.
Know your limits. Challenge yourself within your abilities and skill level; know what you can and can’t do in the water.