Launch of Water Safety NZ’s Pacific Strategy

Speech at the Launch of Water Safety New Zealand's Pacific Strategy, Otara Pacific Islanders Presbyterian Church, Manukau

Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Ni sa bula vinaka, Namaste, Kia orana, Ia Orana, Gud de tru olgeta, Taloha ni, Talofa, Kia ora tatou and Warm Pacific Greetings to you all this morning.

Thank you Su'a William Sio, my Pacific brother and fellow Labour MP for your kind introduction.

I am delighted to be with you today to launch Water Safety NZ’s Pacific Strategy and bring best wishes from Prime Minister Helen Clark and ACC Minister Maryan Street.

I would like to thank you all for being here today for this important occasion and acknowledge:
• Acting Mayor of Manukau City, Gary Troup
• Water Safety New Zealand Executive Director Alan Muir, General Manager Matt Claridge and our Pacific Project Manager Ben Taufua
• Master of Ceremonies, Reverend Robert Robati-Mani who contributed to the production of the DVD we are launching today along with Reverend Iosefa Suamalie, Pastor Faasoo Auvaa, Malia Hamani and Father Pene who also join us this morning.
• All our communities members here this morning. The Pacific Peoples Water Safety Strategy is an important resource for our Pacific communities and by being here today you show your support for this important message – thank you.

As I am often reminding people, New Zealand is a Pacific nation. Our Pacific Ocean is 'Te Moana nui a Kiwa', which means 'woman', and she reminds us that we are all part of the Pacific, and of our close relationship to water and the sea.

As an island nation, whether we’re working, playing or at home water is never far away. New Zealanders would come into contact with a river, beach or pool more often than most other nations.

But there is a big problem. About 130 people drown in New Zealand every year and 650 are hospitalised as a result of water-related injuries. In 2007 there were 11 Pacific drowning deaths, and 39 deaths from Pacific drowning between January 2003 – 2007.

One of those deaths in 2007 was a well respected Pacific community leader with young children from my electorate. He died while swimming in a swollen river. As we prepare to launch this strategy I remember and honour him and all those who have drowned.

The impact on people’s families and communities is devastating. And it is made worse when we understand that most of these drownings and injuries are avoidable, including the Pacific ones.

So what’s being done?

Water Safety New Zealand's vision is that "Pacific families and communities in New Zealand will have the water safe skills and behaviour necessary to use and enjoy the water safely."

This vision contributes to New Zealand’s broader Drowning Prevention Strategy, which ACC is leading. And I would like to acknowledge the support ACC has lent to Water Safety New Zealand's Pacific Strategy.

The Pacific Strategy focuses on creating awareness and education within Pacific communities to achieve a change in behaviour, along with enhanced knowledge and skill development.

The statistics show that about 90 per cent of Pacific people who drown are male, and two thirds are aged 15-44. So the target audience is clearly our young men.

The strategy focuses on active community engagement, through our churches, community road shows and other direct interactions. It goes a long way beyond simple translation of brochures, and that is a good thing.

It also distinguishes between our different Pacific communities taking into account the diversity of our peoples, for example Samoan, Tongan, Cook Islands, or Fijian - each with their own distinct language and cultural nuances.

The resources being used in the strategy include a DVD that will be screened widely in our communities; posters; pamphlets and range of other material – all in a range of languages of course.

We need our communities to better understand the risks and change their behaviour, especially our young men. This strategy will go a long way towards achieving that.

But in the end it all comes down to our people. We need dedicated people working towards a water safety culture and the people in this room are clearly working hard on that front. I thank you for your work so far, congratulate you on what you have already achieved and encourage you to keep going.

So it is with great pleasure that I launch the Pacific Water Safety Strategy.

Please enjoy Te Moana nui a Kiwa, our rivers, lakes, pools and all that Aotearoa and the beautiful Pacific region has offer. But please do so respectfully, and make sure that your families and communities are aware of the importance of safety in the water – it can save lives.

Soifua ma ia manuia