Surf Life Saving NZ supports collaboration between Water Safety & Public Sector as concerning findings from the 2020-2021 Beach and Coast Safety Report are announced

The 2020-21 Beach & Coastal Safety Report[1] reveals concerning findings as New Zealand finds itself amid an appalling summer for fatal drownings. Data from the 2020-21 Beach & Coastal Safety Report shows that New Zealand has a 44% higher ten-year average beach and coastal fatal drowning rate per capita (per 100,000 pop.) than Australia. This is a hugely concerning statistic and as a coastal nation, Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) believes we need to do far better.

Paul Dalton, Surf Life Saving New Zealand CEO says, “The Government, local Councils and the Water Safety sector need to ask ourselves why is the New Zealand ten-year drowning rate so high in comparison to Australia and ensure this disastrous year for drowning deaths is not repeated. Surf Life Saving New Zealand is saying ‘enough is enough’ and supports water safety and public sector collaboration, to manage the risks our coastline presents and improve our drowning rate.” 

Data for 2020-2021 shows there were 25 beach and coastal fatal drownings. This is the lowest fatality count since 2013-14, which sees the New Zealand drowning rate (0.49 per 100,000 pop.) drop to less than the Australian (0.53 per 100,000 pop.) for the first time in ten years. However, it seems this is not an indication of a positive trend. It is likely the statistics reflect last summer’s poor weather and Covid-19 restrictions keeping people away from the beach. Tragically, record numbers of rescues and dire drowning figures have already taken place in the 2021-22 summer period.

Over the last ten years, 38% of beach and coastal fatal drownings occurred at a surf beach in New Zealand. Rip currents are the greatest hazard at a surf beach; however, research shows nearly 60% of New Zealanders cannot identify a rip. Because of this widespread inability to identify rip currents, Surf Life Saving New Zealand introduced the 3Rs Rip Survival Plan to increase awareness and knowledge on what to do if caught in one. The 3Rs message comprises three simple and easy-to-remember steps: 

• Relax and float to conserve energy
• Raise your hand to signal for help
• Ride the rip until it stops and you can swim back to shore or help arrives

Research suggests the 3Rs campaign is clear and resonates with the New Zealand public. “While we have an effective behaviour change tool, campaign exposure needs to be greater, more consistent and communicated in an authentic manner to a wider range of communities,” states Dalton.

We must not be complacent about the need for significant and sustained investment in public education strategies and campaigns for beach and coastal safety.”

With over 12 million individual visitations and 2.2 million people participating in coastal activity (between May 2020 and April 2021) the coast is a hugely popular destination for Kiwis. However, the report also reveals that astoundingly almost one-third of New Zealanders cannot swim or float in the ocean for more than a few minutes, only 9% of adults swam further than 50m in the ocean in 2021 and over one quarter have never swum this distance in the ocean. These statistics highlight the importance of choosing to swim between the flags at a lifeguarded beach for those whose ability to swim and float in the ocean is limited.

In 2020-21 there were 25 fatal drownings at beach and coastal environments. Auckland had the highest fatalities per region (6), followed by Northland (4) and Bay of Plenty (4). However, when looking at per-capita figures, Northland had New Zealand’s greatest fatal drowning rate (3.30 per 100,000 pop.) and Auckland, with a far greater population size, has a fatal drowning rate of only 0.59. Therefore, the risk of fatally drowning on the beach and coastal environments of Northland is over five times greater than in Auckland. 

Over the last ten years, there were 167 beach and coastal drowning fatalities during the three summer months of December, January and February. This figure represents nearly half of the total annual beach and coastal drowning fatalities recorded, highlighting the increased risk associated with the busy summer season. 

For the 2011-2021 period, swimming/wading (22% of fatalities), boating (18% of fatalities), and falls (trips/slips) (16% of fatalities) have been the highest risk activities on the coast. Last year swimming/wading, snorkelling and boating were the highest risk activities.

The trend continues of males fatally drowning more than females on our beaches and coastline. Of those who died from drowning over the last ten years, males represent 87% and females 13%. The report shows a correlation between the higher drowning rate for males and more men taking part in activities identified as high-risk and being less likely to follow safety practices than females.

While the drowning rates detailed in the report are of concern it also highlights the vast number of lives saved by the Surf Lifeguard Service, which has been provided to the New Zealand public for 111 years. Over the last decade (2011-21) 11,364 rescues[2] were carried out, along with 7,866 assists[3], 3,397 searches[4] 1,136,315 preventative actions[5], and 24,163 first aid treatments[6]. For the 2020-21 season alone 513 rescues, 1,1142 assists, 355 searches, 111,861 preventative actions, and 2,186 first aid treatments took place.

The service consists of 74 volunteer Surf Life Saving Clubs that patrol a total of 80+ locations country-wide. During 2020-21 there were 4,621 qualified Surf Lifeguards, with 925 gaining their Surf Lifeguard Award during the season.

In addition to Surf Life Saving beach patrols, volunteer SLSNZ clubs are regularly called upon by the Police to respond to incidents out of hours as part of the ‘National Search and Rescue (SAR) Framework’. These call-outs have significantly increased in recent years as more and more people need these services. There are currently 45 active SAR Squads nationally. In 2020-21 SAR Squads were involved in 92 SAR Operations. As a result of the operations, 78 people were rescued, of which 60 people's lives were saved, with a further 35 people assisted to safety. SAR Squads were also involved in retrieving 15 persons who died, returning them to their whānau and loved ones

Paul Dalton states, “Surf Life Saving New Zealand continues to be immensely proud and thankful for our 4,621 Lifeguards, as well as those in support, training and administration roles. Without their ongoing drive and commitment to keep people safe at the beach, we would see even more lives lost from preventable drownings in our oceans.”

Beach and Coastal Safety Report Key Findings:

2020-21

1. Nearly three in ten New Zealanders cannot swim or float in the ocean for more than a few minutes.
2. Only 9% of New Zealand adults swam further than 50m in the ocean in 2021, while over one quarter have never swum this distance in the ocean.
3. In 2020-21 there were 25 fatal drownings at beach and coastal environments. Auckland had the highest fatalities per region (6), followed by Northland (4) and Bay of Plenty (4)
4. Last year, Northland had New Zealand’s greatest fatal drowning rate per capita (3.30 per 100,000 pop.). Auckland (with a much larger population), has a fatal drowning rate of only 0.59. Therefore, the risk of fatally drowning on the beach and coastal environments of Northland is over five times greater than in Auckland.
5. Between May 2020 and April 2021, 3.1 million New Zealand adults (16 years and above) visited the coast on average 3.8 times each month. This suggests that there were over 12 million individual visitations to the coast with 2.2 million coastal activity participants.

2011-2021

1. New Zealand has a 44% higher ten-year average beach and coastal fatal drowning rate per capita (per 100,000 pop.) than Australia.
2. Over the last ten years, Other Ethnicities[7] had the highest fatal drowning rate per capita (2.49 per 100,000 pop.) of any ethnicity, followed by Pasifika (1.28 per 100,000 pop.) and Māori (1.15 per 100,000 pop.).
3. Males are fatally drowning more than females on our beaches and coastline. Of those who died from drowning over the last ten years, males represent 87% and females 13%.
4. Over the last ten years, 38% of beach and coastal fatal drownings occurred at a surf beach in New Zealand. Rip currents are the greatest hazard at a surf beach.
5. Over the last ten years, there were 167 beach and coastal drowning fatalities during the three summer months of December, January and February. This figure represents nearly half of the total annual beach and coastal drowning fatalities recorded, highlighting the increased risk associated with the busy summer season.
6. Over the last ten years, swimming/wading, boating, and falls (trips/slips) have been the highest risk activities on the coast. Last year swimming/wading, snorkelling and boating were the highest risk activities.

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact:

Lwindi Ellis - Surf Life Saving New Zealand Senior Media Advisor

T: 021757433 | E: lwindi.ellis@surflifesaving.org.nz

Footnotes:

[1] The National Beach and Coastal Safety Report 2021 contains information on SLS capability and membership capacity; rescues and emergency response; and fatal and non-fatal drownings for the period of 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2021.

[2] Rescue - Where a person requires immediate help to return to shore (or place of safety) and who without intervention would have suffered distress, injury or drowning.     

[3] Assist - Where a person requires assistance to return to shore but would most likely be able to get themselves out of danger if unaided.

[4] Search - Any organised search for a missing person or group either at sea or on land. Searches include body recoveries.

[5] Preventative Action - Direct action taken to reduce or eliminate the probability of a specific rescue, first aid or other reportable incident occurring.

[6] First Aid Treatment - Where a patient is administered some form of medical treatment.

[7] *Other Ethnicities represent all other ethnicities that are not NZ European, Pasifika, Asian or Maori.