Fewer dying from drowning

The number of people dying in drowning incidents has fallen in the past year.

Four people drowned in June this year, compared with nine last year, Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) said today.

The year to date figure was also down, WSNZ project manager Matt Claridge said.

There were 43 drownings in New Zealand for the first six months of this year.

The previous average January to June figure from 2001 to 2005 was 64.

Mr Claridge was buoyed by the low toll.

"The drive to increase awareness of water safety messages for the home and recreational setting is on going, but seen also as a reflection of the low drowning toll to date," he said.

"Typically the weather could be used to explain such a fall from previous years, but the significance of a cumulative toll running at less than two thirds of last year is immense."

- NZPA