Child & Youth Mortality Review Committee

This publication was produced in collaboration with Water Safety New Zealand. Its objective is to describe the epidemiology of drowning in 0-24 year olds in New Zealand with a view to identifying where appropriate interventions might decrease child and youth mortality.

Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death for 1-24 year olds in New Zealand.

• In the 1-14 year age group drowning is the second leading cause of injury death after motor vehicle accidents.
• Deaths amongst 0-24 year olds in 1996 alone accounted for 33,762 years of potential life lost.
• Each year approximately 20,000 children and teenagers receive hospital inpatient treatment for injury.

This publication is a description of data from 1980-2002, for 0-24 year olds in New Zealand.

Last updated 17/05/2021