Water safety initiative winner

A Northland programme that teaches children about water safety through hands-on training is being hailed as a model the rest of New Zealand could follow.

The Swim for Life programme aims to improve Northland primary school students' swimming and water-survival skills.

Yesterday, 300 Whangarei children descended on the Whangarei Aquatic Centre for the Have A Go Pool Day, run as part of the Swim for Life programme. Pupils from Whau Valley Primary School, Te Kura Otangarei, Matarau Primary School, Morningside Primary and Hurupaki Primary jumped into the pools to gain a practical understanding of water safety.

In the water, the children rotated around five stations to learn underwater and snorkling skills, Royal Life Saving survival skills, river-safety skills, boat safety and flippa ball, a junior version of water polo.

Amongst the adults supervising from poolside was Cory Sweeney from Water Safety New Zealand, one of the programme's sponsors.

Mr Sweeney, who is based in Wellington, said the Northland Swim For Life programme provided a template he hoped could be adopted around the country.

"The whole format of this is great and it works really well, so if we can use bits and pieces of this and put it into other regions, especially in a pool event, then it really helps us out a lot," Mr Sweeney said.

The Swim For Life beach days had been particularly successful and offered good ideas that could be used in other parts of New Zealand.

Swim For Life team leader Esther Hone said the next beach days would target Kaipara children and at Kellys Bay and Pahi Bay on February 22 and 23.

Also at poolside yesterday was Janine Moy, community recreation manager for Sport Northland, another sponsor of the Swim For Life programme. Ms Moy said the day let children experience situations they could encounter in the future.

"They get to flip out of a boat, practice getting in and out of a boat, putting on a lifejacket, floating in deep water, experiencing rescue through throwing ropes and all that kind of stuff," she said. "If they get into a situation out in the ocean or river they can hopefully remember what they've learned today and apply those skills."