NZ Businesses Fund Free Swimming Lessons for Kids
New Zealand companies are stepping up to teach children life-saving swimming skills as drowning deaths spike. Two businesses donated to a campaign getting thousands of kids safe in the water. #
Swimming lessons might just save a young Kiwi's life, and local businesses are making sure cost isn't a barrier.
Nelson Solar and Ray White Richmond have joined forces with Stuff and Water Safety New Zealand to fund swimming lessons for children across the country. The campaign comes as drowning deaths climbed this summer, with 22 people dying in the water since December 1—nine more than last year.
Toby Nicholls, managing director of Nelson Solar, grew up in the Marlborough Sounds and worked as a lifeguard and dive master. He knows firsthand how critical swimming skills are in a country surrounded by water.
"I think it's such a core skill in New Zealand, especially for kids," Nicholls said. His company chooses a charity each Christmas to give back to customers and the community, and this year's choice felt obvious.
Living in Mapua, Nicholls watches kids jump off the wharf constantly. Teaching them to be water-safe isn't just nice to have—it's essential survival.
Ray White Richmond took a different approach with their 'A Little Ray of Giving' initiative. The real estate company partnered with home sellers like Jill and Peter Rees, donating a portion of their commission to charities their clients cared about.
The Rees family couldn't imagine their grandchildren not knowing how to swim. Instead of exchanging Christmas presents each year, the couple and their three kids donate to charity together.
The Ripple Effect
These business donations mean families who couldn't otherwise afford lessons can give their children critical water safety skills. In a country where beaches, rivers, and pools are part of daily life, swimming isn't optional—it's survival.
The campaign aims to reach thousands of children, creating a generation of water-confident Kiwis. Every lesson funded is one more child who can enjoy New Zealand's stunning waterways safely.
When businesses invest in water safety, they're investing in fewer grieving families and more kids splashing joyfully without fear.
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Based on reporting by Stuff NZ
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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