Pohutukawa Coast takes action on water safety

A rise in drowning figures so far this year on Auckland’s Pohutukawa Coast prompted the areas Sea Rescue Trust to look at how they can increase water safety knowledge in their community.

Pohutukawa Coast Sea Rescue Trust (PCSRT), with the support of Franklin Board, approached local Swimming New Zealand Education Advisor Kay West, to collaborate and develop an open water safety programme for some of the schools.

With Swimming New Zealand (SNZ) and Surf Lifesaving Northern Region on board, Maraetai Beach School was the first school on the Pohutukawa Coast to take part in the SNZ Kiwi Swim Safe Elite and Beach Education programmes funded by PCSRT.

Just before Easter, the SNZ Kiwi Swim Safe programme was delivered to all Year 3-8 students at the school pool. This water safety knowledge continued after Easter with the Beach Education programme, delivered by Surf Lifesaving Northern Region.

The Swimming New Zealand Kiwi Swim Safe programme is a comprehensive programme supported by Surf Lifesaving New Zealand, WaterSafe Auckland and the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation.

It has been developed to give school teachers the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver learn to swim, water and beach safety programmes which reflects the aquatic requirements of the New Zealand curriculum. The programme is designed in three sections; in the classroom, at the pool and at the beach.

The PCSRT’s goal is to continue collaborating with Swimming New Zealand and Surf Lifesaving Northern Region so this programme can be run in all schools in the Pohutukawa Coast area to increase children’s open water safety knowledge and help to prevent drownings.

The programme is certainly already making an impact on students with one parent saying “our son Mitchell came home last week to tell us how much he had been enjoying and learning with his class the Sea Rescue Trust Sponsored Water Confidence skills he had received with Kay West in the school pool.”