By Aktive
Published on Wednesday 14 January 2026
Water is a big part of life in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, with our beaches, rivers, lakes and pools offering recreational opportunities for all ages. They’re places for our people to be active, learn and connect with whānau and friends.
Following a number of water-related recent incidents, people are being urged to take extreme care around water this summer. Our waterways can change quickly with rivers rising after rain, beaches shifting quickly and lakes hiding hazards. Understanding these environments, and knowing how to respond, is an important life skill for everyone.
Water safety isn’t optional in Auckland – it’s a much-needed life skill. But learning water safety isn’t about limiting fun or building fear: rather, it’s about building confidence and capability so people can safely enjoy being active around water.
Aktive’s vision is for Auckland to be the world’s most active city. Further, a cornerstone of our 2024–2028 Strategy is encouraging participation, built on the belief that safe, positive experiences in sport and physical activity foster lifelong engagement. This is why our organisation leads and supports a number of water safety initiatives across the region.
A great example is Water Skills for Life, developed by Water Safety New Zealand and facilitated by Aktive in Auckland, which aims to equip young people with skills to keep themselves safe in, on and around water. It also raises awareness about the risks posed by various aquatic environments and how to assess those risks.
Water Skills for Life also offers free resources designed to improve the quality and focus of aquatic programmes. Rather than concentrating solely on swimming ability, it teaches age-appropriate skills that are most relevant to environments where drownings and water-related injuries most commonly occur, such as beaches, rivers and lakes.
For young people, learning water safety skills early builds independence and supports good decision-making as they grow. Through Water Skills for Life, young people can learn how to recognise hazards, assess risks, and how to best respond when situations change so they can be safe in, on and around water.
Aktive is proud to coordinate Water Skills for Life funding, facilitate regular quality checks of providers to ensure standards are being met, monitor feedback from providers and schools and capture data to ensure the programme is delivering for young people, schools and providers.
Water Skills for Life in Auckland is only possible because of the incredible support Aktive receives from funders. We’re hugely thankful to Foundation North, Water Safety New Zealand, Auckland Council, Four Winds Foundation and The Trusts Community Foundation.
Together, our organisations share a commitment to improve water safety outcomes for Auckland communities. By investing in water safety skills now, we’re helping tamariki build confidence, stay active, and enjoy Auckland’s waterways more safely, now and in the future.
Learn more about Water Skills for Life and how you can help young people stay safe in, on, and around water.