Sad statistic

New Zealanders' fondness for playing at beaches, rivers and lakes has existed for probably as long as people have been here, writes The Press in an editorial.

 Regrettably, it is not matched by a capacity to take care of ourselves when we are in the water. The New Zealand drowning statistics are among the highest in the world. Although the number of people who drown annually is down from its peak of the 1980s, last year 110 died in the water.

That was an increase from the record low of 89 the year before. And next year, according to Water Safety New Zealand, the national organisation responsible for promoting and ensuring safe recreational activities in the water, the figure could climb further to as many as 150 to 180. A disproportionate number of these, the statistics indicate, will be young people. Part of the blame for this is being attributed to less swimming education for the young because of the closing of school swimming pools.

There certainly appears to have been a decline in children's ability to survive safely in the water. According to Water Safety NZ, children's swimming skills are down on average by 10 per cent compared with seven years ago. In specific terms, the lack of water skills is alarming. Only 20% of 10-year-olds can swim 200 metres the standard Water Safety NZ considers necessary to swim and survive in the water. Even basic skills such as keeping afloat or treading water have declined.

Water Safety NZ relates this decline plausibly with the decline of appropriate facilities at many schools for the teaching of swimming and water safety. Some 239 schools closed their pools between 2003 and 2005. The closures have continued since, with Shirley Boys' High School filling in its pool just this week.

One reason for this wholesale devastation of a useful facility was the previous Government's sudden imposition of a tough new water standard for school pools. This outcome was not unexpected. When schools were told in 2001 that they would have to meet the new standard by the end of 2002, principals warned that the increased costs it would impose would be impossible for schools to meet. The Press reported one principal at the time as saying it would cost his school $70,000 to meet the standard. Another summed up the attitude of her colleagues: "There are several schools now saying `stuff it, we will dig the jolly thing up'." And so it has proved on a wide scale.

While the new standard may have been commendable and possibly even desirable for health reasons (although it is hard to recall any serious health problems created by school pools), the perhaps unintended consequence has been many fewer school pools and much less capacity to teach children the basics of water safety. Some parents can find other facilities at which to teach their children, but many cannot afford such alternatives and with school pools no longer available, they have become crowded in any case.

While it is too late now to do anything about the pools that have closed, it may be possible to consider relaxing the rules to see whether any further closures can be prevented. This may involve a trade-off, but given that our water-safety record is so poor it would be one worth making.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First

Chris von Landkammer   #3   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

I think its a shame that school pools have been closed. Now Labour has gone maybe the political correctness might just slow down from stupid levels. We all learnt to swim and it was a break from the classroom. Have people in power forgotten what it was like to have fun at school or are they just trying to pump out drones. This is a country that has plenty of sun and warmth to play outside for children. Or should we encourage our children to stay indoors and do nothing? Shame on the goverment who thought this one up!

Rick Ireland   #2   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Thank God Labour has gone. The mess is going to take a long time to clean up, however.

Ian   #1   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

I fail to understand why the government would allow school pools to close. The school pool is an indispensable tool for education. It's as important as the classroom, the gym and the playing fields. I have always believed, a school is not a school with the pool. Learning to swimming in elementary school, is a fundamental part of education. The pool is not a luxury that can be done without, what is the government thinking? This legislation should be scrapped and never discussed again. To the people of New Zealand, I say to you; rise up and fight this absolutely ridiculous (it not dangerous) decision. Every school in the entire country, should have a pool and all students of these schools should have the option of water safety education. Every school, here in Japan, has a school pool. No one questions it. It is part of the school, end of story.

Ad Feedback