Drowning

Māori Drowning Figures for 2006

Recent drowning statistics released by Water Safety New Zealand's DrownBase™ for the past five years show Māori drowning deaths have reduced from 27 in 2002 to 19 in 2006, a reduction by 30%. The following is a summary of facts for Māori drowning deaths in Aotearoa in 2002-2006.

• In the past five years there have been a total of 595 drowning deaths with 123 (21%) being of Māori descent.

  19 in 2006 (Total Drownings 89)
  23 in 2005 (Total Drownings 120)
  26 in 2004 (Total Drownings 122)
  28 in 2003 (Total Drownings 125)
  27 in 2002 (Total Drownings 139)

• Waikato region has had 30 drowning deaths over the past five years followed by Northland with 15, Auckland and Bay of Plenty had 13 apiece.
• 93 (76%) of Māori drowning deaths victims were male and were spread across a range of water activities including accidental immersions, swimming, boating, underwater diving/snorkelling, fishing and road vehicle accidents.
• 30 (77%) of Māori females drowning deaths occurred in an accidental immersion or road vehicle accident.
• 57% of Māori female were under 24 years of age while Māori males (76%) were predominately aged between 15 and 64 years of age.
• 14 Māori preschoolers have drowned in the same period.

These are provisional drowning statistics for 2002-2006 as at 14 April 2007.

Water safety education will continue to be a priority for developing knowledge and skills to Māori and the community.