Water Safety New Zealand have their own web site now at
www.watersafety.org.nz, or you can
email: nzwsc@watersafety.org.nz.

Thank you for your enquiry regarding windsurfing drownings since 1980. The following information has been collated from DrownBase, the official database of the New Zealand Water Safety Council, for the three drownings .

Date Activity T.Description Location Location T.Description Site 3 T.Description Gender T.Description Age Synopsis
06-Feb-82 Boardsailing Lake Pupuke Auckland Lakes Male 21 Fell from sailboard, hit by another board. Skull fracture followed by drowning.
06-Dec-90 Boardsailing Waitemata Harbour Auckland Harbour Male 32 Fell from sailboard near Tamaki Yacht Club.
24-Aug-94 Boardsailing Oakura, New Plymouth Taranaki Surf Beach Male 19 Drowned while surfing at a beach off Oakura, New Plymouth. He had a history of epilepsy.

I hope this is of some use to you. If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Some of this information is available in the form of a book with maps from the New Zealand Windsurfing Association for NZ$15, Write to: 11 York Street, Opawa, Christchurch, New Zealand. It is also usually available from most windsurfing shops around New Zealand.