November 13, 2023
Water safety needs to start young
A former Navy diver says children need swimming lessons, especially those in rural communities.
It’s Swimsafer week, and Water Safety New Zealand Swimsafer ambassador Rob Hewitt says he grew up swimming in the local creek – but that’s not an option now for many rural kids.
The whole community, including iwi, need to find solutions so tamariki are better prepared for what can happen to them in the water.
“So the reality is, for a lot of our whānau swimming lessons is hard to reach. I do believe you’re right that the iwi do have a responsibility to make sure that they look after the tapawhā of our tamariki mokopuna,” he says.
Ninety four New Zealanders died in the water last year, and this year it’s looking like the total will be over 100.