KEY POINTS:
Only two drowning deaths over the Christmas and New Year holiday period is a "milestone achievement", says Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ).
Figures released today by WSNZ showed there was one recreational and one non recreational death.
The low number beats last year which had three recreational drowning fatalities.
WSNZ operations manager Matt Claridge said the number of drownings was a positive, as over the last 10 years an average of 11 people drowned during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
"Thankfully in the parts of the country where recreational activity has occurred, thoughtfulness and awareness of water safety needs has generally prevailed," Mr Claridge said
"To have achieved only one recreational drowning during a typically frantic holiday time was a milestone achievement.
"Attention should now be paid to ensuring those still around water for the remainder of the summer period, especially the school holidays are aware of the basic water safety messages in the interests of both self preservation and the wellbeing of friends and family."
He said it looked like 2006 was the first year the drowning toll was below 100 since statistics were kept in the 1980s.
Mr Claridge made no mention of the fact that December was the one of the coldest December months on record for the last 60 years.
- NZPA
