SLSNZ NATIONAL Beach & Coastal Safety Report

NATIONAL OVERVIEW
10-YEAR OVERVIEW | 2009-19
NATIONAL OVERVIEW
10-YEAR OVERVIEW | 2009-19
Figure 17
2009-19 (10-Year Average) and 2018-19: Total Beach and Coastal Fatal Drownings by Ethnicity
When analysing total fatal drownings per ethnicity, NZ Europeans represented the highest number (n=11) of total fatal
drownings on average per year (2009-19), followed by Maori (n=9) and Pacific People (n=5). In 2018-19, the Asian fatal
drowning total (n=6) was the only total that exceeded the 10-year average. NZ European (n=9), Maori (n=7) and Pacific
Peoples (n=3) all had fatal drowning totals that dropped below their 10-year averages.
Fatal Drownings (n)
Rate (per 100,000 pop.)
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2.0
1.5
1.04
0.5
0
Average Fatal Drownings per Year (2009-19)
Total Fatal Drownings (2018-19)
ASIAN MAORI NZ EUROPEAN PACIFIC PEOPLES OTHER*
Fatal Drowning Rate (2009-19)
Fatal Drowning Rate (2018-19)
Ethnicity
Figure 18
2009-19 (10-year average) and 2018-19: Beach and Coastal Fatal Drowning Rates by Ethnicity
Between 2009-19, Pacific Peoples recorded the highest fatal drowning rate (1.69 per 100,000 pop.) of any ethnicity,
followed by Maori (1.27 per 100,000 pop.) and Asian ethnicities (0.92 per 100,000 pop.). In 2018/19, Maori represented
the highest fatal drowning rate of any ethnicity (0.92 per 100,000 pop.), closely followed by Asian (0.85 per 100,000 pop.)
and Pacific Peoples (0.79 per 100,000 pop.). However, in 2018-19 all ethnicities recorded a drop in their fatal drowning
rates when compared to the 10-year average.
ASIAN MAORI NZ EUROPEAN PACIFIC PEOPLES OTHER*
Ethnicity
Between 2009-19, Pacific Peoples recorded the highest fatal
drowning rate (1.69 per 100,000 pop.) of any ethnicity
(*represents all other ethnicities)
(*represents all other ethnicities)
Figure 19
2009-19: Beach and Coastal Fatal Drownings by Month (n=320)
The highest percentage of beach and coastal fatal drownings occurred in January (n=56), followed by December (n=44)
and February (n=44). Between 2009-19, 55% of drownings occurred outside of the summer months.
Fatal Drownings (n)
20
15
10
5
0
Fatal Drownings
Summer Season
JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
Figure 20
2009-19 (10-year average) and 2018-199 Beach and Coastal Fatal Drownings per Activity
The listed activities below represent the top eight causes of fatal drowning on beach and coastal areas (2009-19) and inform
our national coastal safety priorities. In 2018-19, the number of drowning deaths while snorkelling, rock fishing, shell/net
fishing, attempting a rescue and using watercraft were above the 10-year average. Swimming/wading, boating and fallrelated
incidents were below the 10-year average.
SWIMMING / WADING
FALL
BOATING
WATERCRAFT
2009-19
7
2009-19
7
2009-19
5
2009-19
3
2018-19
6
2018-19
3
2018-19
0
2018-19
7
Year
SNORKELLING
2009-19
3
ROCK FISHING
2009-19
3
NET / SHELL FISHING
2009-19
2
ATTEMPTING A RESCUE
2009-19
2
2018-19
5
2018-19
7
2018-19
1
2018-19
2
SURF LIFE SAVING NEW ZEALAND
NATIONAL BEACH & COASTAL SAFETY REPORT
SECTION TWO FATAL DROWNING ANALYSIS / 10 YEAR OVERVIEW 2009-19
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