About Us

Water Safety New Zealand’s commitment to Māori water safety

For some time now Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) have been concerned at the high number of Māori drowning compared to that of non-Māori. In fact, whilst the number of drownings in New Zealand is decreasing overall, the number of Māori drowning is steadily increasing. Statistics show that Māori are twice as likely to drown as non-Māori. The reason for this is simply that the key water safety messages that WSNZ and other affiliated organisations are championing are either not reaching, or are being ignored by Māori.

WSNZ believes that the best way to make sure water safety messages are going to successfully reach Māori is by Māori taking the message out to their own communities and Māori taking ownership of the problem. To this end, WSNZ has taken a proactive approach to this problem by establishing a specific Māori Water Safety programme.

Water Safety Coordinator

Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) would like to welcome Mark Haimona, Te Arawa, Ngāti Kahungunu, who has joined WSNZ as a Water Safety Coordinator.  His role is to deliver water safety education to Māori organisations and communities within the Waikato, Bay Of Plenty and Northland Regions.

He believes water is one of the greatest taonga of this land - both physically and spiritually. The seas, rivers, beaches and lakes provide endless opportunities for communities to interact and enjoy water activities such as gathering kaimoana, swimming, hoe waka, diving, and fishing to name a few.  He sees his role as a great opportunity to explore initiatives and issues in communities and promote water safety awareness and drowning prevention for Māori.

Mark looks forward to ‘paddling his waka’ through your region and linking up for a kōrero and perhaps even a surf.

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