IN S IG H TS R E PO R T # 39 – Decem ber 20 2 3
Water safety As people of Moana Pacifica we are closely connected with water: moana, awa and roto. We need the right knowledge, skills and attitudes to engage with water in a safe and meaningful way, and in ways that suit us. Context We have to respect water, and have the knowledge to know what to do and the skills to act safely in and around water. People engage with water in all kinds of ways but some lose their lives in the process – and in most cases this loss of life is preventable. The drowning statistics show: •
Many more males than females
•
Older males using power boats
•
Young people in river incidents during the summer – in part because they don’t see the rivers as hazardous
•
Māori men gathering kai either free diving or snorkelling
•
Asian men without swimming skills, who are fishing in groups from the beach or rocks.
Activities people are engaging in with high drowning numbers include: • •
Food gathering, diving, netting, fishing, boating, river swimming, rock fishing Physical contexts where drowning occurs include moana, awa and roto.
Figure 1: Young men diving into a water hole, Charlie’s Rock, Kerikeri
Why? Different approaches to water safety, previous experiences, cultural influences, whanau and family attitudes can all influence how people will interact with water of all kinds.
Water safety approaches Tangaroa Ara Rau “Tangaroa does not discriminate”
Tangaroa Ara Rau is a nation-wide collective of Māori water safety experts interested in strengthening connections to the water for wellness. They are ‘passionate about kaupapa wai and connecting whānau to the water’. They have many years of experience in kaupapa Māori research, training and education in water safety, swimming, waka, surfing, freediving, ocean diving, ruku kai, mahinga kai and other water related activities. Information is shared via their website and Facebook. One of the team, Dr Chanel Phillips (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi), developed a pioneering Māori water safety framework, Wai Puna1, 2 (wellspring of water and knowledge), which provides a holistic connection to water.
To listen to Dr Phillips on Wai Puna, click here Learning programmes for tamariki based on these concepts are available on the Water Safety NZ website. See Water Skills for Life.
1
Ko te wai te ora ngā mea katoa.
NZRA Insights Report – Fight, Flight or Freeze in
Water is the life giver of all things.
IN S IG H TS R E PO R T # 39 – Decem ber 20 2 3
Case Study: Swimming for Pasifika3 At Richmond Aquatic Centre, a pilot swim programme is helping 10 Pasifika people to learn to swim, conquer their fears and open up potential careers in the aquatics industry.
Skills Active Te Mahi Ako active recreation, leisure and entertainment, partnered with the Nelson Tasman Pasifika Community Trust and the pool’s Swim Magic school to offer the course.
Figure 2 BRADEN FASTIER/STUFF Swim teacher Lisa Stanley helps Ana Lama with her breathing techniques.
Insights to Action
Te Mahi Ako regional learner advisor Nick Makea (Nga Puhi and Niuean – Liku Village) said they had identified a lack of Pacific and Māori representation in the aquatic industry, both in swimming instructors and lifeguards.
Insights
Action
Focus on those most at risk
Water safety is an issue for all of us, but males in particular.
Case Study: ActivAsian
Address the drivers that underpin: the need to provide food; ‘she’ll be right’ behaviour; and the bravado and showmanship of youth.
Yuin Khai Foong, [GM, Sir Peter Blake Marine Education Recreation Centre, Auckland] has noted that new Asian migrants need greater support to understand and navigate their new environment – especially the water. “Water skills need to be for everyone, because you never know when you’re going to end up interacting with the
Bring new lenses
Approach water through different cultural perspectives including how water is viewed and valued
Co-creation
Work differently with each community to design awareness and skill development programmes
Enable communities to run their own programmes
Upskill people within communities to deliver water safety and water confidence programmes
water intentionally or unintentionally …”
Aktive Auckland’s ActivAsian programme has found that Chinese parents – especially those who have been in New Zealand for some time – want their children to learn to swim. There is a clear need for culturally specific support in order to change attitudes and behaviours – and save lives.
Case Study: New New Zealanders Wai Wise is a free, half day programme open to the Indian community (aged 15+). Participants will increase knowledge and awareness of the different and unique water environments we are surrounded by in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland.
Activities include a lifejacket experience, paddleboarding, kayaking and rafting in a controlled environment at Vector Wero Whitewater Park. 2 NZRA Insights Report – Fight, Flight or Freeze in
References and resources 1
Phillips, C. & Jackson, A. (2023). Waka, Whanaungatanga and Water Safety: Using Indigenous Knowledge to Educate Future Aquatic Educators about Māori Water Safety in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://jsfd.org/ 2
Kia Maanu Kia Ora Water Safety New Zealand. (2023). Wai Puna and Learning Programmes for Tamariki,. Retrieved from https://kmko.nz/Wai-Punaand-Learning-Programmes-for-Tamariki 3
Stuff. (November 2023). Learning to swim opening up new opportunities for Pasifika community. Retrieved from https://www.stuff.co.nz/poutiaki/133304271/learning-to-swim-opening-up-new-opportunities-for-pasifikacommunity