New Zealand's Death Beaches

Sad news today that the Warriors will be looking for a new utility forward with the news that young Sonny Fai was swept away at Bethells Beach.

There have been a few other drownings and near misses as is usual this time of year, has anyone asked the question:

Are New Zealand's beaches just too dangerous to swim in?

I know it's a nancy question but after a bit of world travel I realised very quickly that:

1. New Zealand's beaches have some of the coldest water for some of the hottest air temperatures in the world.
2. Most parts of the world, the locals wouldn't dream of swimming in surf as rough as what New Zealand's beaches produce.

In the Caribbean the water is a crystal clear and perfectly flat, calm 25 degrees minimum. Lovely to swim in. But even then the locals are careful not to go out too far. They scream at their children if they go out any further than waist high.

I can't remember the last time I swam in the ocean in New Zealand. It was possibly at Waihi Beach when I was in my early teens. A rite of passage of a New Zealand kid seems to be being thrown in the surf, holding an adults hand screaming at the waves until you are used to the surf. I recall the water was bloody cold, the sand swept the beach with windy cold gusts and stuck to you and most of the day you spent huddled up in the sand dunes with sand in your ear. There were a few near misses where you saw other children, if not sometimes yourself being held under by large breaking waves and the odd rip.

In New Zealand the statistics heavily reflect someone selfless and heroic like Fai who seems to be the one trying to save others from drowning.

Often the statistics in New Zealand are dominated by Maori (26% in 2007) and Pacific Islanders (10% in 2007). Some are ill-prepared boaties. Those who believe "no worries mate, it will be alright, know this area like the back of my hand".

You won't see many Asians swimming. They hate the cold and the waves. They only account for 3% of drowning deaths in 2007.

Of course the argument is that millions of New Zealanders will swim in the ocean and survive. Surf lifeguards keep the beaches safe and why ruin it for the rest?

Fine, but I don't think New Zealanders still realise just how dangerous having a swim in the ocean really is. Especially when it's mixed with male chauvinistic bravado, alcohol, distractions of children and inflatable devices that quickly see people swept out further than they can swim back.

It's a total case for personal responsibility and that for your children.

As for me, West Coast Auckland beaches such as Piha and Bethells are lovely to visit and look at, but stuff swimming in them. Give me a private (heated) pool for that any day.