Water activities
New Zealanders enjoy swimming and water activities in the sea, rivers and lakes. These waterways can impact health if they become contaminated.
Water activities
Water activities can be:
- exciting and active
- diverse and wide-ranging
- fun for the whole whānau
- enjoyed on and in the water.
Before you get in the water
Swimming is healthy and fun, and swimming pools are safe and healthy environments. But there are bugs and infections in the community that can be brought into the water and spread. It is important to do your bit to stop these bugs and infections from getting into the pool.
Help yourself and others to stay healthy in and out of the water by following a few simple steps.
- If you, or your tamariki, have had runny poos (diarrhoea) in the last 2 weeks do not go into the water.
- Take tamariki to the toilet before they swim and wash hands after going to the toilet.
- Where possible, shower yourself and your tamariki before you put togs on. Use soap and warm water (especially in the area around your bottom).
- Tamarki should wear approved swimming nappies. Cloth and disposable nappies are not allowed at swimming pools. Pool staff can tell you if your nappies are approved.
- Remember to wash your hands after changing your tamariki.
- If you think someone has had an accident (you see poo in the pool) tell a lifeguard. They will tell you when you can get back in the water.
Whether you are planning on being in, on or under water, we want you to be safe. With any outdoor activity, conditions can change fast. AdventureSmart has great resources to help you stay safe. They provide people in New Zealand with advice and resources on how to enjoy water activities safely. AdventureSmart resources include the Water Safety Code and the Boating Safety Code.
Water activities — AdventureSmart (external link)
Water Safety Code
The Water Safety Code includes 4 key safety messages:
- Be prepared.
- Watch out for yourself and others.
- Be aware of dangers.
- know your limits.
Water Safety Code — Water Safety New Zealand (external link)
Boating Safety Code
The Boating Safety Code has 5 key boating safety messages:
- Lifejackets — take and wear lifejackets at all times when you are out on the water.
- Skipper responsibility — the skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat.
- Communications — take 2 separate waterproof forms of communication.
- Marine weather — check the weather before going out and be prepared for changes.
- Avoid alcohol — alcohol affects your judgement and awareness, which are critical for safe boating
Boating Safety Code — Coastguard New Zealand (external link)
- Consumer NZ (external link)
Information about keeping your spa pool water clean. - Fresh water — Ministry for the Environment (external link)
- Microbiological water quality guidelines for marine and freshwater recreational areas — (external link)Ministry for the Environment (external link)
- Recreational water — (external link)Environmental Health Intelligence New Zealand (external link)
- Maritime New Zealand (external link)
Information on the rules and equipment that help keep you safe on the water, and what your responsibilities are as a recreational boater. - Boating basics (external link)
- AdventureSmart (external link)
Tips, links and advice to help you plan and prepare your outdoors adventure. - Water Safety New Zealand (external link)
Advice on staying safe in and on the water, whether you’re at the pool, the beach or the river. - Coastguard New Zealand (external link)
Advice on safe boating, and information on volunteering with Coastguard. - Boating Education (external link)
Find boating courses in New Zealand. - Surf Life Saving New Zealand (external link)
Find out about lifeguarding, learn how to stay safe at the beach and how to get involved with surf sport in New Zealand
Toxic algae and cyanobacteria
Algae and cyanobacteria are an essential part of food webs in aquatic ecosystems. But at times they can also produce biotoxins that pose a health hazard for humans and animals in both marine and freshwater environments.
Both algae and cyanobacteria exist in planktonic environments (free-floating in water) and benthic environments (mat-forming or attached to the substrate of rivers, lakes, estuaries, and other bodies of water). When potentially hazardous algae or cyanobacteria grow too fast or bloom they are termed harmful algal blooms. More information is available on the Land, Air, Water Aotearoa website.
- Marine algal blooms — Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (external link)
- Toxic algae — Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (external link)
Guidelines with information about the risks from algae and cyanobacteria, and advice and guidance for public health officers who investigate suspected cases or outbreaks are available here:
Finding places to swim
The Land, Air, Water Aotearoa website has a tool to so people can check out the water quality test history from sites across New Zealand, including information about:
- available facilities
- how to get to there
- recreational water quality monitoring in New Zealand.
Health benefits of water activities
If activities are done in the water they:
- take the load off your body
- are soothing and therapeutic
- are low impact — your joints and muscles are under less stress when in water
- use nearly all your body’s muscle groups (when using full swimming techniques)
- are excellent during pregnancy — as the water supports the weight of the pēpi (baby)
- are great for older people and people with health conditions, such as osteoarthritis and obesity, as the water supports your weight and keeps you cool.
Rivers, lakes and seas are an integral part of New Zealand culture. They have particular cultural significance for Māori who have a special connection to the water. Water is essential to life and identity for Māori and represents vitality. It is an area of play and amusement, a place to bathe and wash, a source of spiritual sustenance, healing, and nutrition.
Rivers, lakes and seas are a fantastic place for recreational activities, such as swimming, rafting, waka ama, hoe waka, kayaking, fishing and diving.
Water activities can help a person to achieve the physical activity recommendations for people in New Zealand. Water activities can include some or all of the 4 types of activity important for wellbeing and overall quality of life:
- aerobic
- balance
- flexibility
- strength.
It is important to choose activities that cover some or all of the activity types, particularly as we get older.
Physical activity — Health New Zealand (external link)
Swimming is the most popular recreational activity for people aged 16 to 24 years old. Swimming is in the top 3 activities for all other adult age categories across all ethnicities. Approximately 1.14 million (34.8%) New Zealand adults swim at least once per year (SPARC 2008).
When you begin, start slowly and speed up as your body warms up. Aim to start with one length of the pool (or equivalent in the sea), using any stroke or strokes.
An aqua fitness class is similar to a land fitness class, except you do it in water. The class should consist of warm-up, aerobic, cool-down and stretching exercises. Some classes include swimming, others just a 'work out' to music. Try a combination of both to see which you prefer. Match the level of the classes to your fitness and confidence levels.
Aqua jogging is like running on land except you are suspended in water, using a flotation vest or belt.
Aqua jogging offers many of the benefits of running on land. More kilojoules are burned on water than on land, but without the excess fatigue. Aqua jogging also burns slightly more kilojoules than swimming.
Many people think of water activities being confined to in the water, for example, swimming and aqua jogging. But there are a whole range of water activities that can be enjoyed on the surface of the water too.
Being an island nation, many New Zealanders have great access to the water. Water sports can range from high-adrenaline activities, such as windsurfing, kite surfing, waka ama and white water kayaking, to more leisurely activities such as sailing, sea kayaking and fishing — and everything in between.
- Scuba diving in New Zealand — PADI (external link)
Find out about scuba diving and dive sites in New Zealand. - Whitewater NZ (external link)
Check out the guide to rivers, find canoe and kayak clubs, and learn about river safety and conservation. - Waka Ama NZ (external link)
Find out about waka ama (outrigger canoeing) clubs and events in your area. - Windsurfing New Zealand (external link)
Learn about windsurfing, find a windsurfing school or club, and find out about events in your area. - Yachting New Zealand (external link)
Find out about about racing and recreational yachting, events in your area and where to learn to sail.
Keep your head above water
Most meningitis is caused by bacteria or viruses, but amoebic meningitis is caused by an amoeba that lives in hot pools.
Keeping your head above water in a geothermal pool will protect you from amoebic meningitis.
Keep your head above water — HealthEd (external link)
Amoebic meningitis — Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (external link)