Closures blamed for drowning toll

Matt Claridge, Water Safety New Zealand chief executive, says school pool closures have contributed to New Zealand's high drowning statistics.

Teaching kids to swim to survive is key to reducing our nation's drowning statistics, says Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Matt Claridge.

He also believes no pre-schoolers should drown in this country. "Kids under five should be within arm's reach of a parent or caregiver at all times in, on, and around water."

The closure of school swimming pools has been well reported, leading to an outcry by education experts and water safety officials.

In 2012, Education Aotearoa magazine reported that only one-in-five 12 year olds could swim 200m - the minimum survival standard set. Almost 20 per cent of school pools in poor repair had been closed and cash-strapped schools needed to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to do fix them.

Mr Claridge believes the closure of school pools has contributed to New Zealand's high drowning statistics.

The Ministry of Education's policy on aquatic education is vague and not as supportive as it could be, he says.

A more comprehensive approach is needed including teaching children about how water moves and watching videos on identifying rips.

Mr Claridge says such initiatives such as Sealord Swim for Life and the Plunket bath mat campaign have never been more important. However, he warns there is a danger if those programmes continue to be successful that the Government might not see the need to get involved, undermining water safety.