Background Māori are overrepresented in New Zealand’s drowning statistics. From 2018 – 2022, one-quarter of all fatal drowning were Māori (WSNZ, 2023) with a drowning rate of 2.56/100,000 compared to 0.96/100,000 for Europeans. Reasons for this discrepancy is complex, including levels of water competency and assessment of risk (Stanley, 2018), however, traditional Māori practice’s such as gathering kaimoana (seafood) are key factors.

Objective This programme is delivered in schools and marae to target rangatahi (teenagers) to provide education and experiences in free diving and gathering kaimoana in the most effective and safest way. It aims to increase water competence, including knowledge, attitudes, behaviours, and practical skills within a mātauranga Māori foundation. Another objective is to build and develop leadership capacity of rangatahi so they can share the knowledge, skills, and experiences to keep themselves and others safe. A final objective is to increase the participation of rangatahi where their well-being and connection to the ocean is enhanced.

Programme Description/Learnings

• Passing on knowledge regarding accessing, utilising, and sourcing kaimoana in the ocean and surrounding environment – inclusive of Māori mātauranga.

• Ensuring rangatahi can safely use and have knowledge of equipment utilised in and around moana and diving.

• Enhancing tauira taha tinana (physical), taha wairua (spiritual), taha hinengaro (mental) and overall hauora (health/wellbeing) – through RUKU (diving).

• Teaching of diving for whānau (family) succession – future divers. Providing skills and knowledge to build capability for whānau to access kaimoana through diving as well as practicing mātauranga Māori utilising physical recreation.

• Building individual competency, adding to any previous knowledge or teachings that have been intergenerationally taught.

• Buddy diving – pairing with someone with experience to continue the learning pathway. Sharing of knowledge and experiences that adds to learnings from this kaupapa (project).

Implications and Conclusions Pre and post-surveys are completed to provide evidence of shifts in knowledge, attitudes, intended behaviours and practical skill development. A wānanga (meeting) is held with all participants and kaimahi (staff) to discuss the kaupapa to gathering feedback, input, and evaluation.

Evaluations have shown 100% of participants display a development of water competence.