Summer jobs for lifeguards

A quartet of water guardians will watch over swimmers this summer.

Manukau Leisure has recruited four new staff under the Te Kaitiaki o te Wai project to be based at the Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa pools in Mangere.

The project, which translates to "guardian of the water", focuses on promoting water safety and safe pool practices.

Locals Hollice Pule Pule, Joseph Soloai, Brian Asiata and Albert Swanney-Fetalaiga will be observing and helping swimmers in a bid to increase water safety and confidence.

They'll be employed for six months as part of Work and Income New Zealand's Community Max programme, a wage subsidy that helps young people complete community-based projects.

Through the job the quartet will be able to work towards a national certificate in aquatics (level three) and will gain their customer services award (level two).

Project co-ordinator Phillina Kauri says the new recruits are excited about being given the opportunity to make a difference in their community.

"Two of the Te Kaitiaki o te Wai staff have just completed Corporate Academy Group training and were so proud of their new positions they wore their Manukau Leisure lifeguard uniforms to graduation," she says.

The project was a response to a recent Water Safety NZ survey that confirmed the swimming ability of young people was falling to alarming levels.

Between 2003 and 2007 there were 35 avoidable drowning deaths in the Counties Manukau region.

Pasifika children are most at risk. They represent 13 percent of the 130 drownings that occur each year.

With three of the Te Kaitiaki o te Wai staff speaking fluent Samoan, the project will directly target children with the greatest need for basic water safety education.

Their tasks include promoting safe pool supervision practices by talking to parents, caregivers and children about pool rules, swimming programmes and educational material.

They'll also be on hand at pool fun days and will co-ordinate water safety activities during school holidays and public holidays.

Although based at Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa, they will also make appearances at Manukau Leisure's five other swimming pools - all of which are free.

- © Fairfax NZ News