Health professionals slam easing on pool rules

Health professionals are slamming a move to ease back on pool fencing rules, stating more children may die as a result.

The Government's proposed amendment to the Swimming Pool Fencing Act of 1987 is aimed at reducing compliance burdens while maintaining child safety. It has been heralded as saving $17 million over 10 years.

The proposal includes five-yearly checks, instead of council inspections every three years, as well as scrapping requirements for spa pools to be fenced if they have lockable covers.

But pediatric emergency specialist Mike Shepherd told Radio NZ the proposal "waters down" the effective legislation already in place.

The Starship Children's Health doctor said it was a backwards step, going against worldwide scientific research that the best way to prevent toddler drownings was fencing and self-closing, self-latching gates.

"This law is prescriptive and I don't think we should apologise for that," Mr Shepherd said.

"Toddler drowning is an incredible tragedy, it results in a huge toll for our society...the effect of that is catastrophic for the whole family," he told Radio NZ.

Water Safety New Zealand and SafeKids Aotearoa previously told the Herald the changes would cost lives.

Ann Weaver from Safekids feared there would be more deaths if the act was repealed.

"The act is very specific and it works," she said.

"The changes make it unclear what is required so it will be left to interpretation by pool owners and councils."

Matt Claridge from Water Safety NZ added the bill was "ambiguous, vague and poor".

At the first reading of the amendment in Parliament in September, Minister for Small Business Craig Foss said the act had successfully reduced deaths from 10 each year to three but it was "cumbersome for pool owners and councils".

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Current rules under Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987:

*1.2m fence on four sides

*Self-latching gate

*Spas and hot pools require fencing

*Three-yearly inspections

Proposed: Part of the Building Act

*Barriers will be "performance based"

*Five-yearly inspections

*No fencing required for spas and hot pools

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