Preschoolers are dying at their fastest rate in 14 years as New Zealand's drowning toll rises sharply.
Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) today released figures showing 90 people have drowned so far this year, compared with 87 in all of 2010.
It said the most disturbing statistic was an increase in pre-schooler drownings, from six last year to 11 in the first nine months of 2011.
Young children now make up 12.2 per cent of the total drowning toll.
WSNZ General manager Matt Claridge said the preschooler death toll was the highest for the year-to-September period since 1997.
Many of those deaths could have been prevented if children had been closely supervised while they were near the water, he said.
"We've taken pride on behalf of New Zealanders on slowly reducing the preschool drowning toll so this is very disappointing.
"What is particularly tragic is that we know most of the deaths by drowning could have been avoided.''
Mr Claridge said the year-to-date drowning toll was at its highest since 2003.
He said an unprecedented 17 of those who died so far were in the 55-64 age bracket, while 11 were over 65.
That showed the drowning dangers associated with New Zealand's aging population, he said.
"It's something we're aware of - the aging population syndrome and its impact on drownings. A lot of people live near the water. A lot of people have more time to go out on the water.''
Maori and Asian ethnicities were also disproportionately represented in the statistics.
In 2010 Maori totalled 15 drownings, while that number stands at 20 in 2011.
Six Asian people drowned in 2010, compared with 13 so far this year.
Offshore deaths doubled from six last year to 13, while "underwater incidents'' went from four in 2010 to eight in 2011.
Mr Claridge said he expected the drowning toll to rise to 110 or more by the end of the year.
He urged parents to closely supervise young children, and boaties to remember to wear lifejackets.
"To have surpassed the total number of drownings recorded for all of 2010 by the end of September 2011 is cause for real concern.''
"Enjoying all things aquatic is part of our way of life in New Zealand. This is something we rightly celebrate; but failure to adhere to commonsense behaviour in many cases has resulted in the position we are faced with today.''
- Hayden Donnell
