WSNZ Incidents

Each year Water Safety New Zealand collect and collate information from around New Zealand on aquatic related incidents. From this they produce their annual drowning report. They have kindly allowed us to share some of this data. This information can be used to identify groups within your local community who are most at risk from an aquatic related incident and help to inform and develop the water safety education programmes delivered at your facility

To read a copy of the full report, visit the Water Safety NZ website

Preventable fatalities include recreational and non-recreational deaths. They do not include fatalities arising as a result of vehicle crashes, suicides or homicides

Hospitalisations are drowning related hospitalisations that required hospital care

Reported drowning related statistics often change due to updated information on cause of death. This information is complied from a range of sources. Thanks to our partners for making their information available.

90 Fatalities in 2021

1.8 Per 1000,000 drowning death rate

183 Drowning hospitalisations in 2021

3.6 Per 1000,000 hospitalisation rate

80 Average number of drowning deaths from 2011-2020

179 Average number of drowning hospitalisations from 2011 - 2020

Based

Deaths

7 Underwater deaths 18 Tidal Water deaths

70% of underwater deaths were of Māori ethnicity

Swimming deaths were up 28% on the previous ten year average

There were 62 Swimming hospitalisations. This is down from the previous 10 year average of 70. There was a 1 : 1.8 ratio female to male. Over 50% were under 15 years. Two thirds were under 25 years. 39% were of Maori ethnicity. Asian and Pacific Peoples were up slightly on their population proportion.

There were 46 hospitalisations in Artificial Waters. This is down on the previous ten year average of 51. These were mostly swimming, with nearly a quarter being falls/slips. Two thirds of these were aged under 15.