ACC warns of summer injury and accident surge in Northland

There were 406 ACC claims caused by surfing incidents in Northland in 2024. Photo / Water Safety NZ

Northlanders are being urged to warm up, keep fit, and have a “hmmm” moment before hitting the beach and firing up the barbecue as summertime injuries soar.

While summer is the best time of year in Aotearoa - particularly in the north - it’s also when many people overexert themselves or exercise a lack of judgment.

ACC claim numbers show around 70,000 New Zealanders are injured through outdoor recreation activities over the summer.

In 2023, ACC accepted 12,025 claims for injuries that occurred at the beach or on the sand throughout the country, costing more than $28 million to help people recover.

In Northland, beach, surfing, swimming, and cycling topped the list of activities where people hurt themselves the most.

There were 1001 beach and sand injuries in the year to December 2024, costing $4.7m.

2023 was no better, with 968 claims at a cost of $4m. Soft tissue injuries made up most of these claims, with feet, knees and ankles the most injured body parts.

Whangārei-based physiotherapist Adam Herbison says staying conditioned and warming up are key to being injury-free.

Whangārei-based physiotherapist Adam Herbison, from Northland Physiotherapy, said staying conditioned, strong and fit was key to being injury-free.

“A lot of people are going from a resting period over Christmas and getting into full-on activities or new activities.

“Their body isn’t ready for it.

“It’s the same on the sports field, if an athlete has come back from an off-season and they pull a hamstring after a full-on sprint.”

Herbison suggests doing a five-to-10-minute warmup “to match what the activity is”.

Ease into the activity, stay hydrated with water, and avoid strenuous activity if you’ve had a “big night out”, Herbison said.

“If it’s surfing, make sure your hips are mobile, and you’ve done a few sprints.

“If it’s cycling, start with a cycling-focused warmup, and if you’re mountain biking, start with an easier track first rather than going extreme.”

ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker agreed warming up was important.

“We know that exercising on the beach poses unique injury risks because of the extra strain soft surfaces like sand can put on our muscles and joints.

“It pays to do dynamic warm-ups and ease into it.

“Keep an eye out for anything that could cause you to trip too.”

Apart from beach, sand injuries and road cycling, mountain biking caused the next highest number of injuries in Northland Photo / 123rf

Apart from beach and sand injuries, road cycling caused the next highest number of injuries in Northland, with ACC accepting 676 claims in 2024, costing $2m to help those people recover.

This was followed by 406 claims caused by surfing incidents costing $1.9m, and 313 claims for swimming-related injuries costing $797,000.

Mountain biking was next, with 75 claims costing $153,000 over the same period.

Other summer activity mishaps in Northland included 38 barbecue-related injuries at a cost of $150,000.

Whitaker said it’s great that New Zealanders “get out there amongst nature”.

“We want New Zealanders to enjoy their summer, whether that’s at the beach, on the mountain bike trails, or on the sports field.

“But we’re challenging people to take a moment to have a ‘hmmm’ – to think about ways they can manage injury risks while doing their favourite things.

“ACC supports people to recover from injuries but it’s always much better if people aren’t injured in the first place.”

Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with roading, lifestyle, business, and animal welfare issues.