December 17, 2014
Maori targeted in safe swim campaign
With summer coming on, Water Safety New Zealand is trying to raise awareness among Maori of the need to stay safe at the shore.
Coordinator Matt Claridge says it is helped by Sealord’s Swim For Life initiative, which gives kids basic swimming and safety lessons even if their school doesn’t have a pool.
There is also a new programme backed by New Zealand Post, Kia Maanu, Kia Ora! (Stay Afloat Stay Alive), that tries to address the high Maori drowning toll by focusing on youth.
He says Maori made up 22 percent of drowning deaths last year, including most of the preschool fatalities.
"So it’s obviously a lack or a break in the chain of supervision. As you get a little older, those late teens, early 20s, Maori boys jumping off the wharf, that kind of thing, having a bit too much fun without managing the safety precautions, and then a little bit later once you get into the plus 30 age group, it’s males going out gathering kai, might be on the boat diving or fishing off the rocks that are drowning unfortunately," Mr Claridge says.
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