Upcoming rock-based fishing safety masterclasses

📅 Friday 23 October, 1–5pm

📅 Saturday 28 November, 6am–10am

📅 Friday 22 January, 1pm–5pm

📅 Friday 5 February, 1pm–5pm

These sessions are a great opportunity to learn rock-based fishing safety essentials, get tips and tricks for must-have gear and set ups, and participate in hands-on, bystander rescue training.

Please keep an eye on this page and our socials as we get closer to these dates for more details and event updates.

Find the fish and your way home safely!

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Commemorating 10 Years of Safety: The Uretiti Beach Crab Fishing Workshop

DPA, alongside the Waipū Police, Waipū Cove Surf Life Saving Club, and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), hosted our signature open-water workshop at Uretiti Beach, Waipū, late last month.

Established to commemorate the crabbing incident of Mr. Heng Li, a 35-year-old fisher who tragically drowned at Waipū in 2015, this educational programme has been developed specifically for Asian communities in partnership with Community Constable Martin Geddes, who was involved in the rescue attempt.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of this vital community initiative, which saw 41 participants attend a comprehensive full-day session to enhance their water safety knowledge and crabbing skills.

The core learning objectives of this programme include:

• Hazard identification: Understanding hazards such as tidal changes, rip currents and sun glare.
• Equipment safety: Selecting and correctly fitting lifejackets.
• Survival skills: Learning how to Float first, practicing the 15 water competencies and utilising Public Rescue Equipment (PRE).
• Technical skills: Crab fishing techniques and navigating maritime regulations via the NZ Fishing Rules app.
• Emergency response: Open-water boat rescue demonstrations.

Additionally, Asian participants learned about Waipū’s landscape, history and Māori traditions. Since its inception, an estimated 500 participants have benefited from the programme, gaining critical insights into New Zealand’s unique aquatic environment.

Madison Chang, DPA’s Ethnic Community Engagement Manager, noted the programme’s enduring impact, “As we celebrate a decade of this initiative, we remain committed to empowering our ethnic communities with the skills needed to enjoy New Zealand’s waters safely.”

Find more useful tips and resources for safer rock and land-based fishing here.

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No two days the same: A month in the life of an Aquatic Educator

This story is a snapshot of just one month in Danika’s life as an educator with Drowning Prevention Auckland. In that time, she might teach pool lifeguards and engineers, support refugee communities, work with rangatahi in the ocean, and visit yacht clubs and community events. Much of this happens in the water, outdoors and on the move, and almost never behind a desk.

Before joining DPA, Danika was a First Aid Instructor with New Zealand Red Cross. She has long been at home in, on and under the water as a surf lifeguard, competitive swimmer, free diver, fisher and scuba diver. That mix of skills means she is just as comfortable coaching confidence in the deep end as she is supporting people through their first ever experience of Aotearoa New Zealand’s waterways.

Early one morning you will find Danika at a pool before opening hours, running an aquatics-based first aid session for lifeguards and pool staff.

Across a focused workshop, she helps teams refresh critical skills such as CPR, using a defibrillator and responding calmly when something goes wrong in or beside the water. The goal is simple: when an emergency happens, staff feel ready, not rattled. The same principles apply in workplaces where people spend time in, on or around the water. From staff who supervise aquatic activities to teams whose work takes them near waterways, Danika helps people understand risks, recognise trouble early and respond effectively.

Another day, she might be at Wero Whitewater Park, a controlled river environment in Tāmaki Makaurau, working with a team whose job brings them close to fast-moving water.

Here, the focus is on survival and helping each other if someone ends up in the river unexpectedly. Participants learn how to stay calm and Float first, move with the water rather than fight it, and use simple rescue techniques to support teammates from the safety of the bank. It is physical, practical and eye-opening, especially for people who have not experienced cold, fast water before.

The next week, Danika may be standing in front of 84 refugees at the Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre, supported by a team of 12 translators.

Many of the people in the room have come from landlocked countries or have never been to a beach. Danika adapts her teaching style by slowing down, shortening sentences and using stories and demonstrations so that key safety messages are clear in every language. She knows this work may save lives. For people who are new to Aotearoa New Zealand, understanding rip currents, unexpected immersion and how to get back to safety can be the difference between a close call and a tragedy.

Outside of the resettlement centre, you will find her with community groups across the city in yacht clubs, faith communities, corrections facilities and more, tailoring “Be Water Safe” workshops to each audience.

Danika also spends some days supporting our team to deliver RUKU: Tau ihu in the open water with rangatahi at Te Kohuroa Mathesons Bay.

Here, water safety is woven together with connection to place and respect for te taiao. Rangatahi experience the ocean directly, learning to Float first, understand their own abilities and build confidence in, on and around the moana.

When she is not in a pool, river, classroom, or bay chances are Danika is out in the community at events and festivals such as Splashy Bikers Nature Day or Have a Throw Day, chatting with tamariki, whānau and community members at the DPA stand. It is all part of the same mission: helping more people enjoy Aotearoa New Zealand’s waters safely, for life.

We regularly hear feedback like:

“My instructor was attentive, informative, and accommodated all our needs while encouraging us to challenge ourselves.”

That balance of being supportive and stretching people just enough is at the heart of how Danika and our aquatic education team work.

If you are a workplace wanting to keep your people safe around water, or a community group keen to build water confidence and skills, our team can help.

Learn more about workplace training and book.

Explore Be Water Safe for community groups and enquire.

With Aquatic Educators like Danika on the job, one thing is for sure: even in a single month, no two days, and no two groups, are ever the same.

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In the story below, one participant shares how the Aquatic WOF helped them move from being afraid of water to feeling more capable and confident in the sea and in swimming pools. Their experience is a great reminder that regularly testing your ability in the water is key to staying safe and prepared, especially as ability and fitness changes over time.

Leo’s story: From fear to confidence – Three years of Aquatic WOF

I had been afraid of water since childhood. I never went to swimming pools and always stayed well away from the sea.

A few years ago, I met my girlfriend, who is an able swimmer. One day we went to the beach at Tāwharanui, and she encouraged me to try bodyboarding in the safe swimming zone. To my surprise, I immediately enjoyed the feeling of the sea waves pushing me forward. That moment sparked something in me, and I began to seriously consider learning how to swim.

I started with a few group lessons at Tepid Baths in Auckland CBD and practiced on my own after each session. Over time, I improved and could swim freestyle quite well, but deep water still scared me. That was when I discovered the Drowning Prevention Auckland (DPA) Aquatic Warrant of Fitness (Aquatic WOF) programme.

I first participated in the 2023 and 2024 Aquatic WOF sessions. The instructors were incredibly supportive and helped me build confidence in the water. I learned essential skills such as deep-water exits, floating on my back, wearing a life jacket, and swimming as far as I could in five minutes. I remember only managing about 100 metres at first.

Recently, I attended the 2025 Aquatic WOF, and the tips and advice from Josh really made a difference. I discovered that the “X” floating technique works best for me to stay afloat for long periods, which is crucial if I ever need to wait for help in open water. I also learned how to put on a life jacket quickly and comfortably.

The biggest surprise was my improvement. I managed to swim 200 metres in five minutes. A great tip from Josh was to conserve energy by switching between swimming styles. I swam the first 50 metres freestyle, then alternated between backstroke and freestyle for the rest.

The Aquatic WOF programme has completely changed my relationship with the water. I now have the confidence, competence, and practical skills that I know could save my life.

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