Kai Gathering with Te Ara a Hape

Kai Gathering with Te Ara a Hape

The youth group from Makaurau Marae recently completed our Kai Gathering programme which ended on a high with two open water dives at Te Kohuroa/Matheson Bay. The conditions on the day were perfect for the dive with some serious excitement levels!

Prior to reaching the coast they completed six pool sessions that are based on the 15 water competencies for drowning prevention. The students were able to draw on their existing experience from venturing out with whānau and friends to learn the essential skills, behaviours and attitudes that would keep them safe.

These included understanding shallow water blackout – knowing how to recognise if their buddy was in danger and how to respond. It was great to see them communicating with hand signals and working to keep each other safe.

After mastering some of the trickier skills like how to put on their weight belts whilst in the water, and perfecting the diving and surfacing safely, we took them on a snorkel safari! The group moved together on the course, finishing near the rocks where they were able to swim around, looking for any sea life they could find.

Like any water based activity, working in the pool to perfect the necessary competencies is important before heading out into the ocean. This programme not only teaches them the skills and behaviours but changes the attitudes and ability to assess what could go wrong and how they would respond. We know that they will be able to carry out and use everything they learnt when they are next out diving or snorkelling in the future.
Kairo Jacobs

Aquatic Educator

More Kai Gathering information

Click the link to learn more about our kai gathering workshops.

Contact: Harry Aonga – 021 111 8674 [email protected]

Other news

Kai Gathering with Te Ara a Hape

Kai Gathering with Te Ara a Hape

The youth group from Makaurau Marae recently completed our Kai Gathering programme which ended on a high with two open water dives at Te Kohuroa/Matheson Bay. The conditions on the day were perfect for the dive with some serious excitement levels! Prior to reaching...

Spring Research Forum 2023

WHEN 2pm, Wednesday 22 November WHERE Ponsonby Cruising Club, 141 – 151 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven, Auckland RSVP to [email protected] by Thursday 16 NovemberThis year our annual research forum showcases the presentations that will be given at the World...

Wai Wise: Free water safety programme for Indian community

Wai Wise: Free water safety programme for Indian community

Come and try out new water activities and learn how to be safer, in on and around the water.

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. The park is a world class tourism destination and the only one of its kind in Aotearoa / New Zealand.

DPA’s evidence-based teaching covers the 15 Water Competencies for Drowning Prevention. These learning outcomes are the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours we teach in all of our programmes to help prevent drowning and make sure everyone comes home safe.

Places are limited with three Saturday sessions running this summer. Be sure to sign up today or get in touch with any questions.

Key learnings

  • Understanding survival positions in lifejackets for a survival situation
  • Preparation, knowledge and understanding around open water (weather, wind, swell)
  • Paddling competence and technique
  • Safe entries and exits from land and boat

Dates

2 December 2023 – 9.30am – 1.15pm
17 February 2024 – 9.30am – 1.15pm
16 March 2024 – 9.30am – 1.15pm

Location

Vector Wero Whitewater Park

Sign up for Wai Wise

The free programme is open to the Indian community aged 15+ and is suitable for beginners.

Contact: Harry Aonga – 021 111 8674 [email protected]

Funded by Tū Manawa / Sport New Zealand.

Other news

Kai Gathering with Te Ara a Hape

Kai Gathering with Te Ara a Hape

The youth group from Makaurau Marae recently completed our Kai Gathering programme which ended on a high with two open water dives at Te Kohuroa/Matheson Bay. The conditions on the day were perfect for the dive with some serious excitement levels! Prior to reaching...

Spring Research Forum 2023

WHEN 2pm, Wednesday 22 November WHERE Ponsonby Cruising Club, 141 – 151 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven, Auckland RSVP to [email protected] by Thursday 16 NovemberThis year our annual research forum showcases the presentations that will be given at the World...

Manawa Makes a Splash

Manawa Makes a Splash

Manawa means heart in Te Reo Māori and “our heart” is what Manawa Harrison, 17, is to his friends and whānau.

Manawa’s journey has not been an easy one. He was diagnosed at a young age with Autism, ADHD, SPD and mild Tourette Syndrome. He had trouble focusing in school and his behaviour was often erratic.

Living in the small East Coast town of Ruatoria, (Ruatorea) near Gisborne, made access to services and professionals that could help very difficult.

After years of struggle, his father Sparks, along with some supportive medical specialists, decided it was time to stop focusing on what he “should” be doing and instead focus on what he loves to do.

For Manawa that means going hard on the self taught drums, flying through the air doing bombs, hot pools and all things water related.

And so for four school holidays in a row, Sparks and Manawa made the eight hour journey from Ruatoria to Auckland to attend the Splash Break-Away Programme run by Drowning Prevention Auckland, first in Manurewa then at West Wave in Henderson.

Sparks explains that being in the water is beneficial for Manawa’s focus, its something he enjoys and can be successful at doing.
“I spent many hours for three weeks looking at different holiday programmes around New Zealand, he’d done lots of different camps, basketball holiday programmes, but then I saw Splash.”

“He loves it. He loves the staff, he thinks they are really cool, there was no negativity and he enjoys being around the other kids. He wasn’t sure if he would like it at first but he really did. I had tears in my eyes driving back to Ruatoria listening to him talk about having such a good time.”

v
“It’s something new to learn and it’s really fun, I like everything about it.”
Manawa Harrison

Sparks is also appreciative of West Wave Aquatics Centre and Diving New Zealand who made time for Manawa to do some sweet bombs from the top diving board.

“The younger kids from the Splash programme came to watch him and were like ‘wow look at him’ – he loved that.”

Being involved in water and water safety programmes have really helped build Manawa’s self confidence and he is now regularly attending school in Ruatoria as well as Tautau Village in Gisborne to help him with life skills. He has a bright future ahead of him with plans to play the drums at Wembley Stadium as well as help other children with Autism find their passions.

“Manawa wasn’t ever supposed to be able to do some of things he can do, but he is doing them.”

One Day Water Safety Programme

Our next Splash one day water safety programmes run at several facilities across Auckland in the September/October school holidays

Other news

Kai Gathering with Te Ara a Hape

Kai Gathering with Te Ara a Hape

The youth group from Makaurau Marae recently completed our Kai Gathering programme which ended on a high with two open water dives at Te Kohuroa/Matheson Bay. The conditions on the day were perfect for the dive with some serious excitement levels! Prior to reaching...

Spring Research Forum 2023

WHEN 2pm, Wednesday 22 November WHERE Ponsonby Cruising Club, 141 – 151 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven, Auckland RSVP to [email protected] by Thursday 16 NovemberThis year our annual research forum showcases the presentations that will be given at the World...

Water Competency Sessions

Water Competency Sessions

Adult drowning rates in New Zealand are increasing.

Research has found that this is likely for a number of reasons:

  • Lack of water safety practice
  • Entrenched unsafe attitudes toward open water participation
  • Underestimation of risks in aquatic activity
  • Overly optimistic perception of capacity to cope with that risk

(Stanley & Moran, 2021)

The adult water competency pilot programme was completed in June 2022 which showed some interesting results:

  • Adults overestimated their water competence in controlled pool environment
  • Although not tested in open water during the pilot, adults perceived open water competency was likely to be overestimated
  • All participants water competency improved after education at the conclusion of the programme

(Stanley & Carmine, 2022)

Here’s what participants had to say about the programme:

I was incredibly surprised that I was able to improve weaknesses with a few simple tips from the facilitator

I was shocked to realise that there were some things that I couldn’t do after years of thinking I could do them; this was a real eye opener to figure out what I could do and how to keep myself safer in the water

Want to improve your water competency?

Take this opportunity to test yourself in the safety of the pool with instructors on hand to guide you. Can you do everything you think you can? Could you be safer in the water?

To improve your water competency, join a free session at one of the four venues that Drowning Prevention Auckland are facilitating with the support of Auckland Council. The session is one hour long, free of charge and is designed to help you discover your current level of water competency and give you tips on how to improve it.

To join this free initiative, contact one of the four sites below.

Other news

Kai Gathering with Te Ara a Hape

Kai Gathering with Te Ara a Hape

The youth group from Makaurau Marae recently completed our Kai Gathering programme which ended on a high with two open water dives at Te Kohuroa/Matheson Bay. The conditions on the day were perfect for the dive with some serious excitement levels! Prior to reaching...

Spring Research Forum 2023

WHEN 2pm, Wednesday 22 November WHERE Ponsonby Cruising Club, 141 – 151 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven, Auckland RSVP to [email protected] by Thursday 16 NovemberThis year our annual research forum showcases the presentations that will be given at the World...

Community Water Safety Education

Community Water Safety Education

Highlights from our April activity including Wai Wise, a global drowning prevention event at Vector Wero Whitewater Park and the new one-day SPLASH holiday programme.

Wai Wise Programme

One of DPA’s flagship programmes, Wai Wise, ran for the first time with Auckland’s Asian community last month.

The programme provides an insight of water safety learning through both theory sessions and a series of practical workshops to improve water competence, survival and safety skills. Over twenty participants from Chinese Dragon Boat Association (CDBA) nicknamed the Dragon Riders, took part. over several weekends. . Whilst participants joined with boating experience from paddling dragon boats, they lacked water safety knowledge and experience.

DPA partnered with Coastguard Boating Education (CBE) who supported the courses on Day Skipper and In-water Survival.

v
“I thought water safety was all about swimming techniques before joining Wai Wise, and now I realised there is way more knowledge and experience that we need to gain. I feel lucky to have been the Skipper of the boat in the drowning simulation and rescue scenario. I practiced using the communication device on Channel 16, then started to deliver Distress code on Mayday, and I wish to let other Asian communities know that participation in these programmes is important for all of us”
Shan Shan Xu

Global water safety and drowning prevention event – Vector Wero Whitewater Park

Last month, Vector Wero hosted a global water safety and drowning prevention event in collaboration with several key partners in the aquatics industry. The event provided members of the public with free in-water experiences, lessons and resources to keep themselves safer in on and around the water. The activities included white water rafting, stand up paddleboarding, canoe polo and kayaking.

It was fantastic to see such high levels of engagement with hundreds of people learning and having fun.

The DPA team provided guidance and information on Auckland’s navigational safety bylaws, lifejacket use, pool safety messaging and ran a real time demonstration of the 4R’s for bystander rescue. The demonstration teaches members of the public how to assist people in the water without putting themselves at risk. This is an important skill to learn as statistics show us that 3% of rescuers who enter the water to save somebody in distress end up drowning themselves.

What are the 4Rs of Bystander Rescue

  • Recognition This emphasises the importance of recognising when someone is at risk of drowning and taking action to prevent it. This includes being aware of the signs of distress, such as gasping for air or struggling to stay afloat and taking immediate action to assist them. It is also important to keep an eye on those who are swimming or playing in the water, particularly children or those who may not be strong swimmers.
  • Respond If someone is in danger of drowning, the next step is to respond quickly. This may involve alerting others in the area, such as lifeguards, other swimmers or calling 111 and asking for the police. It is important to remember that time is of the essence in a drowning situation, so any delay in responding could have serious consequences.
  • Rescue The next step is to rescue the person in danger. This may involve using tools around you including, flotation devices, water bottles, sticks, throwing a rope or other objects to the person which will assist in keeping them afloat until they are able to swim to shore or until help arrives.
  • Resuscitation Finally, once the person has been rescued, it is important to revive them if necessary. This may involve performing CPR at a rate of 30 compressions and two breaths or other lifesaving techniques like the recovery position until emergency responders arrive.

Complete the free Bystander Rescue lesson within the Water Safety for Youth and Young Adults eLearning module.

For more information about events, contact Harry Aonga – Team Leader Community Education & Events: [email protected] or on 0211118674.

April 2023 SPLASH Holiday Programme

SPLASH originally started as a weeklong holiday programme and has has now been re-designed to to run in one day – a day filled with new learnings and water safety experiences.

During the school holidays, SPLASH took place at Mount Albert Aquatic Centre, offering two daylong programmes for around 30 children aged 8-10 and11-13 year olds. The programme covers many aspects around the water, with some of these being, lifejacket safety, boating safety, recognising, and assisting a drowning person and beach safety.

The children thoroughly enjoyed all of the activities with the highlights being the snorkelling and safer boating. The safer boating activity not only taught them what to do and what to wear when on a boat, but it also developed their teamwork and leadership skills.

The children really enjoyed the programme and left with a whole new set of skills. Many were keen to return for the next holidays!

v
“I learnt to bring a first aid kit and communications on a boat and to always tell someone where you are going”
v
“I liked the snorkelling, I learnt about how to snorkel especially how to use the mask and snorkel and I liked picking up the paua shells”

Other news

Kai Gathering with Te Ara a Hape

Kai Gathering with Te Ara a Hape

The youth group from Makaurau Marae recently completed our Kai Gathering programme which ended on a high with two open water dives at Te Kohuroa/Matheson Bay. The conditions on the day were perfect for the dive with some serious excitement levels! Prior to reaching...

Spring Research Forum 2023

WHEN 2pm, Wednesday 22 November WHERE Ponsonby Cruising Club, 141 – 151 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven, Auckland RSVP to [email protected] by Thursday 16 NovemberThis year our annual research forum showcases the presentations that will be given at the World...

How’s Your Workplace Water Competency?

How’s Your Workplace Water Competency?

Drowning Prevention Auckland partners with workplaces around Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and further afield to offer their employees invaluable water safety training. Whether your organisation works directly or indirectly in a water-based environment, a Water Competency course will equip your people to be safer in, on and around the water.

Thirty-four percent of people drown when they have unintentionally entered in the water and 3% of bystander rescuers end up drowning. With the key learnings from the Developing Water Competency course, staff will be able to equip themselves with knowledge and skills to keep themselves safer around the water.

Josh Carmine, the DPA Educator running the workplace programmes, is a qualified paramedic, accomplished lifeguard and experienced instructor. He enjoys running fun and interactive sessions for organisations that wish to increase their people’s water competence.

“It is very rewarding to see groups thrive in controlled environments that challenge, encourage and enhance the skill levels of all who attend. It is always a real highlight to see those lightbulb moments as participants learn to understand hazards, recognise and assist people who are in difficulty in the water.” says Josh.

Covering a number of the 15 water competencies, including recognising and avoiding water hazards, floating, treading water, and bystander rescue techniques when in water or on land, the workplace water safety programmes are not only excellent for personal development but also an excellent team-building experience.

At the end of the one-day water competence programme, participants experience increased confidence in their own ability to respond to emergency situations in, on and around the water.

Benefits:
  • Fun and interactive learning tailored to the needs of your team
  • Fantastic team building experience
  • Learn more about the coastal environment
  • Learn how to keep yourself and others safer in and around the water
  • Learn essential skills for in water survival
  • Learn dry based rescue techniques
  • Improve general water competency and confidence
“I learnt an incredible amount of things from the knowledgeable instructor who even made a conscious and impressive effort to include te reo Māori into his presentations.”
“Fantastic instructor, he was able to cater for all skills and abilities and was able to relate the training to our workplace roles.”
“I really enjoyed the course, I took so much value from learning how to rescue someone from land as I am not the best swimmer myself.”

Would you like to find out more about our water competency courses for the workplace? Contact Josh Carmine ([email protected]) or explore options on our website.

Other news

Kai Gathering with Te Ara a Hape

Kai Gathering with Te Ara a Hape

The youth group from Makaurau Marae recently completed our Kai Gathering programme which ended on a high with two open water dives at Te Kohuroa/Matheson Bay. The conditions on the day were perfect for the dive with some serious excitement levels! Prior to reaching...

Spring Research Forum 2023

WHEN 2pm, Wednesday 22 November WHERE Ponsonby Cruising Club, 141 – 151 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven, Auckland RSVP to [email protected] by Thursday 16 NovemberThis year our annual research forum showcases the presentations that will be given at the World...