The Asian ethnic group is over-represented (per capita) in the New Zealand's drowning statistics, representing 8% (on average) of the annual drowning toll.

In the period 2004 to 2008 32 Asians drowned in New Zealand, with 84% of those being male and 75% participating in a recreational acitivity of which land-based fishing accounted for 38%. (WSNZ DrownBase)  

In the five years to 2009 14 Asian people drowned in the Auckland region. See the Statistics page for further details.

Watersafe Auckland established a New Settler Water Safety Reference Group to address this over-representation and developed strategies to avoid duplication of resources and to ensure appropriate resources are distributed to all sectors of the new settler communities.

• Workshops are available free of charge to new settler groups who would like to learn more about water safety. Classroom sessions can be run by WaterSafe Auckland on demand. Theory sessions are approximately 30-45 minutes and cover water safety in the home, beach, community, rockfishing and boating safety. For more information about these workshops please contact Teresa Stanley, teresa.stanley@watersafe.org.nz
• International schools - In line with the new pastoral care policy teaching resources have been distributed to 100 international schools.

Resources

• New Settler Water Safety DVD - Produced with the aim of assisting those in our New Settler and Asian communities in becoming more aware of safe practices in and around water. It covers four key settings: Boating, Pool, Beach and Rock Fishing. Viewable in English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Korean.
• 'Be Water Safe' - A bi-lingual resource based on the following settings: Home, Community, Beach, Rock Fishing and Boating. Available in Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, Japanese, Somali, Vietnamese and Chinese. These can be downloaded in PDF format from the Resources panel (right). WAI is currently developing new illustrated versions of these which will be on this page by the end of June 2010.
• West Coast Beach Safety - Developed in partnership with Waitakere City, Surf Life Saving Northern Region, covering surf safety, rips and rock fishing. This is available in English, Chinese Mandarin and Korean.

For further details on these resources and to place an order click here to go to the Resources page or follow the link on the menu bar at left.

Women-Only Swimming

• Sunday evenings
  Cameron Pool, Arundel St, Mt Roskill (ph 09 625 8751)
  Evaluation from these sessions has highlighted the benefits for women in this community to be able to participate in physical activity and socialise. This project has been partnered with the Auckland Regional Public Health Service and Refugees As Survivors.   
• Saturday afternoons 2.30pm to 4.30pm
  Waterhole swim centre, Parrs Park, West Coast Road, Glen Eden
  (ph 09 818 2312)
  Ladies-only fun time, includes 40minute swim lesson, only $3. 
  Contact Anjum 021 036 8623 with any inquiries.