New To NZ Programmes

The Auckland region is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world with over 220 ethnicities residing in Auckland. Asian and other ethnicities make up a higher proportion of the Auckland population, compared to the rest of New Zealand and consequently the Auckland drowning toll is made up of a higher proportion of Asian and other ethnicities. Statistics NZ 2018 census shows that 28% of the Auckland population are Asian and in some local board areas this rate is as high as 40%.

This presents a whole new set of challenges for new migrant and refugee communities when it comes to keeping themselves and others safe in, on and around water. For the past five years (2016-2020) there have been 95 preventable drownings in Auckland, over one-quarter (27%) of these were Asian or Other.

Many of these people come from countries where they are not close to water and may not have had any form of water safety education in their country of origin. Evidence shows New Settlers tend to arrive in New Zealand with less likelihood of being taught water safety, less water safety knowledge, experience, and skills than long term New Zealand residents (Moran & Willcox, 2013). ‘New’ New Zealanders are initially offered some protection from drowning due to being less likely than other New Zealanders to participate in aquatic recreation. After several years of moving to New Zealand, most ‘new’ New Zealanders increase their frequency of aquatic recreation. Without a complementary development in water competence, the increase in aquatic recreation means that new settlers to New Zealand are at a higher drowning risk.

Recent evidence from Australia shows that ethnic-minority populations are at increased risk of drowning (Willcox-Pidgeon, et al., 2020). Although migrants are not over-represented in drowning statistics, trends were found for drowning among migrants linking specific activities and country of origin (Willcox-Pidgeon, et al., 2021).

DPA is committed to catering programmes that are culturally and linguistically appropriate for our audience. This includes the co-creation of programmes with community groups for increased uptake when it comes to learning drowning prevention competencies and exploring the aquatic activities within Auckland and New Zealand.

We offer a range of free programmes and some that include costs these are: Interactive presentations, controlled water environment workshops, open water workshops and gender specific water competence programmes.

Moran, K., & Willcox S. (2013). Water safety practices and perceptions of ‘new’ New
Zealanders. Int.J. of Aquatic Research & Education, 7(2), 136-146. DOI: 10.25035ijare.07.02.05

Willcox-Pidgeon, S. M., Franklin, R. C., Leggat, P. A., & Devine, S. (2020). Identifying a gap in drowning prevention: high-risk populations. Injury prevention, 26(3), 279-288.

Willcox‐Pidgeon, S., Franklin, R. C., Leggat, P. A., & Devine, S. (2021). Epidemiology of unintentional fatal drowning among migrants in Australia. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 45(3), 255-262.