Eight people drowned last month - the highest figure for April in five years.
Water Safety New Zealand's figures show three recreation-related drownings, including 8-year-old Erina Rowles and her 5-year-old brother, Travis, who died in a family boating tragedy near Waiheke Island on April 24.
Of the five
non-recreational drownings in April, two involved 11-month-old children in separate home swimming pool incidents.
Water Safety NZ operations manager Matt Claridge said the organisation had just released a report on fencing around home pools.
The total number of home pools is estimated to be 73,673, up 18,523 since 1997.
The report found that 70 per cent of participating local authorities reported difficulties enforcing the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act. Problems were associated with defining the immediate pool area, perimeter fencing and access via house doors.
- NZPA
