2021 Provisional Drowning Report
2021 Total Fatalities: 74
2016-2020 Average Fatalities: 78
In 2021 there were 74 recreational (intending to be in the water) and non-recreational (no intention of being in the water) preventable drowning fatalities. This provisional annual drowning report provides statistics and insights based on the 74 incidents. Note: In 2020, there were 74 preventable drowning fatalities.
This report is subject to change once all incidents have been verified by coronial findings.
Contents
Region
Regional Fact Sheets (pdf download)
| Auckland | Gisborne | Manawatu-Wanganui | Otago | Taranaki | Wanganui |
| Bay of Plenty | Hawke's Bay | Marlborough | South Canterbury | Tasman | Wellington |
| Canterbury | Manawatu | Northland | Southland | Waikato | West Coast |
Activity
Environment
Age
Ethnicity
Gender
Disclaimer
Drowning data is sourced from Water Safety New Zealand’s DrownBase™ and the figures provided are provisional.
Preventable fatalities include recreational and non-recreational drowning deaths. They do not include those fatalities classified as ‘other’ (arising as a result of road or air vehicle accidents, homicide, suicide or of unknown origin) as these are not considered applicable to the prevention and rescue efforts of the water safety sector.
