Lower numbers of drownings are a blip and not yet a trend.

61 lives have been lost in water-related incidents this year – 26 percent down compared to the 10-year average.

Water Safety New Zealand says there needs to be more education in schools and a standardisation because each school is learning something different.

Chief Executive Daniel Gerrard told Mike Hosking there are still massive gaps.

“27 percent of eight-year-olds can’t even float for two minutes. That’s in a nice warm pool, you put them out in the difficult conditions – maybe a chop, maybe a swell – how long will people survive?”

He says there needs to be a consistent approach.

He says most schools are doing something, but there should be a greater alignment with international standards.

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