Pools that are filled or partly filled with water must have physical barriers that restrict access to the pool by unsupervised children under five years of age. File photo. Photo: Stuff
A tragedy involving a toddler who drowned in a temporary pool is prompting a fresh warning to Aucklanders to keep safety in mind this summer, especially with young children around water.
Aromaia Morehu Leoni Duff died after she wandered out of a relative's house and into the backyard where a swimming pool was set up, in 2023.
The 20-month-old drowned in a temporary pool that was set up two months prior, with no barrier or fence around it.
In a coroner's report released in October, Coroner Heidi Wrigley labelled the drowning a tragedy "waiting to happen, in the event of a lapse in close supervision".
Auckland Council team leader swimming pools compliance Wayne Daniel said the loss is a heartbreaking reminder that toddlers are curious and will wander.
"When a drowning statistic turns out to be someone you know, the impact is life changing," Daniel said.
"That's why it's so important for parents and caregivers to keep watch of their children when playing near water, within sight and reach, without distraction."
As Auckland heats up and families race to unbox their temporary backyard pools, he urged whānau to keep safety at the front of their mind.
The council has more than 32,700 registered pools that the compliance teams inspect, however Daniel said they were seeing a huge increase in temporary pop-up pools that people tended not to register.
"This is because they are cheap and readily available.
"They are easy to set and forget and pose the same safety risks for drowning as permanent pools. A toddler can drown in just 40cm of water and it can happen so quickly. People don't tend to realise just how little it takes."
Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Glen Scanlon wanted Kiwis to actively change behaviour around temporary pools on their property, or, at best - don't use them at all.
He said if people insisted on using them, they simply had to be fenced or emptied immediately after use.
"If you can't do this - don't use them," Scanlon said.
Over the past 10 summers, from 2015 to 2025, three young New Zealanders have drowned in a portable pool.
Scanlon said the market was flooded with temporary pools, and action had to be taken about the blurred lines around safety.
"Around any form of water, young children must be constantly supervised with a designated adult actively responsible for them.
"Many New Zealanders buy temporary pools and use them without barriers or are potentially unaware of the regulations that need to be followed."
Under the Building Act, any pool that holds 40cm of water or more is legally required to have a barrier or fence to prevent unsupervised access.
Portable pools over 1.2m high don't need a full fence, but they must have a barrier around the entry point.
Daniel said as well as making sure a swimming pool is compliant, the most important thing people can do is supervise young children around pools.
"For little ones, that means being in the water with them, watching them and keeping them safe.
"Even if you don't have young children yourself, don't be complacent. You never know who will be visiting your property."
To help keep tamariki safe this summer near temporary above-water pools, Daniel said simple tips like staying close to children when they're playing in or near water, and checking fencing and gates are in good condition and that entry to the pool is properly restricted could go a long way.
He added fences should be 1.2m high, gates are to be self-latching and self-closing, and the latch height should be 1.5m above ground.
Safety tips for to keep children safe:
- Eyes on; don't get distracted by your phone, visitors or chores.
- Never prop pool gates open.
- Check gate latches are working and remove climbable objects.
- Empty small portable pools when not in use.
- Never leave ladders against portable pools or spas.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
