Safe swimming video competition!
Calling all Whanganui school students! Make a video about safe swimming in Whanganui this summer and be in to WIN one of three $100 vouchers from Whanganui District Council!
Choose ONE of the swimming spots below and include the safety messages listed under the location in your video (you can put it in your own words). You can email your video to: holly.hoddinott@whanganui.govt.nz or upload it to your social media account and email the link to this address by midnight on Sunday, 10 December 2023.
Swimming spot safety messages for your video:
Home pools
• Tamariki under five years of age and learners need to be actively supervised around water – keep them within arm’s reach
• Make sure other children are within your sight at all times.
• Make sure your pool has a fence if it’s meant to have one – for more information, visit the residential pools page on the council’s website at: bit.ly/3N0n2VZ
Beaches
• Swim between the flags! Lifeguards are out with flags from 12 noon until 6pm every day over summer
• Watch out for rips – they can look like:
– brown water from stirred-up sand
– a smoother surface with waves breaking on either side – debris floating out to sea
– a rippled look when the water around is calm.
• Check the river’s depth – water levels change from day to day
• Look out for hidden logs or debris when diving and swimming
• You can use rowing club pontoons as long as you keep clear of rowers getting boats in and out of the water
• Keep clear of all boats.
Castlecliff Wharf
• No swimming at Castlecliff Wharf – it’s dangerous!
• Head to Castlecliff Beach instead and swim between the flags.