Recreational water

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.

Keeping tamariki (children) safe

Always supervise tamariki near water.

Supervision of tamariki in, on or near water is essential for their safety. Proper supervision in and around water requires a responsible adult keeping tamariki in their care within sight and within reach at all times.

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.

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  • 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:

  1. Be prepared.
  2. Watch out for yourself and others.
  3. Be aware of dangers.
  4. 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:

  1. Lifejackets — take and wear lifejackets at all times when you are out on the water.
  2. Skipper responsibility — the skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat.
  3. Communications — take 2 separate waterproof forms of communication.
  4. Marine weather — check the weather before going out and be prepared for changes.
  5. Avoid alcohol — alcohol affects your judgement and awareness, which are critical for safe boating

Boating Safety Code — Coastguard New Zealand (external link)

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.

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:

The Environmental Case Management of Persons Exposed to Harmful Algal Bloom and Cyanobacteria: Guidelines for Public Health Officers - Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (external link)

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.  

Swimming — Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (external link) 

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.
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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.

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)

Protocol for clean-up and management of sewage spills to land

The protocol provides guidance for public health officers on the clean-up and management of sewage spills to land at non-workplace environments. 

Sewage spills to land - protocol for cleanup and management — Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora [PDF, 255 KB]