Editorial: Have respect for the water

Stay smart and safe in the water.

In yesterday's editorial I mentioned swimming between the flags.

New Zealand has had a horror summer - with seven drownings during the official holiday period, which ended at 6am on Monday, and another - an 11-year-old boy - on Monday afternoon.

We're a nation surrounded by water. In Rotorua we're less than an hour from the coast and we're surrounded by lakes, rivers and streams.

The water can be unpredictable - but we shouldn't avoid it, we should respect it. That means being comfortable in and on the water, and it means taking precautions - expect the unexpected.

Whether or not you believe in New Year resolutions - it wouldn't be a bad idea to make 2015 the year you and, if you have them, your kids learn to swim. Make 2015 the year you make an effort to use life jackets and encourage others to use life jackets when boating.

And your respect should extend further than the water - don't forget about other water users. Waterways are unpredictable enough without people adding their own chaos to the mix.

I mentioned swimming between the flags yesterday in reference to a recent trip to Papamoa Beach.

As much fun as fighting the surf was, it was also hard work staying upright and holding on to the kids - and this was in the safety of the shallows (and between the flags).

The ocean is a powerful beast, but as Detective Sergeant John Wilson points out in today's 111 Files column, lakes can be as dangerous as the sea.

God knows we've seen enough lake tragedies reported in these pages.

Here's to a 2015 with none.