"We need communities to get involved and lead the change."
In 2017, Waikato had one of the six highest drowning tolls in New Zealand, despite a reduction in preventable drowning fatalities from 2016.
Moreover, during 2017, 20 per cent of all river drownings occurred in the Waikato region.
"Addressing these challenges requires engagement with community leaders who understand the issues," he says.
This includes engagement with iwi and Māori organisations in the Waikato.
"Māori are overrepresented in Waikato drownings and over the past decade the Māori drowning rate in the Waikato was higher than the national average," said Mr Mills.
The governance group set up by WSNZ to lead the strategy in the Waikato is made up of Matthew Cooper, CEO Sport Waikato; Simon Perry, CEO Perry Group; Donna Flavell, CEO Waikato Tainui; Dennis Turton, CEO Trust Waikato; Jonty Mills, CEO Water Safety New Zealand; Vaughan Payne, CEO Waikato Regional Council.
The community is invited to attend discussion forums for the strategy.
To register for the forums email Sport Waikato at reception@sportwaikato.org.nz or by calling Helen Hall-King on 07 858 5388.
The Hamilton forum is on October 25, 5pm to 7.30pm at Sport Waikato, Brian Perry Sports House, Akoranga Drive. There will also be forums in Te Kuiti on October 26, and Taupo on October 29.