New Zealand Hairdresser Raises $1K for Kids' Swimming Lessons

When Brenda Ardern discovered that 130,000 New Zealand children have never learned to swim, she knew exactly what her salon's next charity drive would support.

The New Plymouth hairdresser has owned Cutting Edge salon for nearly two decades, running a different local charity fundraiser each year before Christmas. This time, she partnered with the Stuff Life Savings campaign, which aims to provide swimming lessons for 10,000 children across the country.

For Ardern, a veteran stand up paddle boarder who's competed at national championships for 15 years, the cause hit close to home. She learned to swim in school and never realized how many Kiwi kids miss out on that same opportunity in a nation surrounded by water.

"I didn't realize that was a bit of a skills gap," Ardern said. She knows private swimming lessons cost a fortune, but the value goes beyond technique.

Children also need to recognize dangers in open water and understand basic safety rules. "My parents always taught me you don't turn your back on the sea," she explained.

Over six weeks, Ardern raffled off hair products and donated items at her salon. The effort brought in $1,000 for the campaign.

"I wish we could say we had 10 times as much, but every little bit counts," she said.

The Ripple Effect

Ardern's fundraiser does more than add money to the pool. By talking with customers about water safety, she's raising awareness about an issue that touches countless New Zealand families.

Each conversation at the salon chair plants a seed. Each dollar raised brings another child closer to learning skills that could save their life during a beach day or lake swim.

In a country where water is never far away, teaching kids to respect and navigate it safely creates generations of confident, careful swimmers.

One hairdresser's holiday drive is helping ensure more New Zealand children can enjoy their water-filled home safely.