By Sela Jane Hopgood of RNZ

A Samoan-New Zealand lifeguard encourages Pasifika to take swimming classes following a report highlighting their overrepresentation in drowning statistics.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand’s (SLSNZ) Seashore and Coastal Security Report Pasifika reveals, Maori and Asians are over-represented in drownings.

On common, 36 folks drown every year on New Zealand’s coast, based on the report.

A lot of the drownings occurred on unsupervised seashores or exterior of patrol hours, and 87% of the victims had been males.

SLSNZ chief govt Paul Dalton stated on a per capita foundation, however not general, Maori and Pacific residents had been overrepresented within the numbers.

“Their publicity to danger is a little bit larger than that of different ethnicities merely due to the kaimoana [food from the sea], the hyperlink they’ve with water. They’re on the market doing issues, and various things for everybody. “

Final 12 months, a examine from the College of Auckland discovered that almost all of instances in New Zealand weren’t sporting a life jacket when found.

The examine additionally discovered that the median age of drowning victims was 41 years outdated.

By way of ethnicity, 37% had been European New Zealanders, 12% Asians, 24% Maori and 19% Pasifika.

College of Auckland examine spokesperson Jonathon Webber stated the latter two had been statistically overrepresented when in comparison with their percentages within the inhabitants, presumably because of meals assortment actions. and fishing.

In 2012, folks within the Pacific had been additionally over-represented in drowning statistics, accounting for 7% of New Zealand’s inhabitants on the time, however accounting for 9% of drowning deaths within the nation. In 2007, Water Security New Zealand (WSNZ) reported the rising variety of leisure drowning deaths amongst Maori and Pacific Islanders.

Two-thirds of all drowning deaths amongst Maori and the Pacific had been associated to leisure actions.

SLSNZ lifeguard John Tuia, who’s of Samoan descent, stated many Pasifika don’t take part in swimming classes and this was one of many causes drowning charges had been excessive for this. specific group.

“I can relate to this personally as a result of once I grew up in Samoa swimming classes had been by no means a precedence as a result of we all the time swam in shallow water. There aren’t many locations that arrange swimming classes like they do in New Zealand.

“Pasifika grew up studying to cowl up as an indication of respect to the general public, so sporting bathing fits is just not a standard observe. Typically, the Pasifika put on [a] t-shirt and shorts to cowl up when swimming, however we all know that heavy clothes is just not splendid as it could actually change into waterlogged and heavy making it tough to swim or float, ”he stated. he declares.