Tauranga Harcourts gifts swimming lessons

Harcourts Advantage Realty Ltd family, Max Martin with his two son's, Simon, left, and Nigel. Photo/File

New Zealand's alarming drowning statistics have prompted Harcourts Advantage Realty Ltd in Tauranga to offer a special Christmas present to the region's disadvantaged kids.

The company is offering 40 sets of swimming lessons to 20 boys and 20 girls in Tauranga whose families might otherwise not be able to afford to have them learn to swim.

The lessons are being offered in association with Tauranga's Liz van Welie Swim School.

Harcourts Advantage Realty Tauranga director Simon Martin said his team were so concerned about the number of drownings in New Zealand so far this year, they wanted to somehow do something to help.

"We live in a part of the country with a beautiful coastline, and the sea and swimming play a big part in everybody's lives - but we were really disturbed by just how many drownings still happen.

"With that in mind, the way to help became obvious very quickly: helping to make sure those kids who might otherwise miss out, could have access to swimming lessons," he said.

New Zealand has one of the highest drowning rates in the OECD.

Water Safety NZ and Drownbase figures as of 30 November 2015 show that 84 people have drowned so far this year.

"Learning to swim should be a compulsory part of every Kiwi kid's upbringing. Sadly, that's not always possible. By giving away these lesson we hope we can help make a difference to New Zealand's worrying record on water safety," Mr Martin said.

Swimming lesson giveaway details
The lessons, 20 sets for boys and 20 sets for girls, will be held over two weeks in 2016; January 18-22 and January 25-29
To be eligible children must be attending primary school (aged 5-11 years)
Family must hold a community services card, or be working with WINZ or another social development agency as a result of reduced income; they can work with their social services provider to be nominated for the lessons
No more than one boy and one girl per family
Successful families must contact the Liz van Welie Swim School by December 20, 2015
They must complete and enrolment form with Liz van Welie Swim School and comply with the rules of the swim school
Participating children must be able to be photographed for promotional purposes
Lessons are not transferrable