On Thursday, 24 November, at a Gala Dinner held at Te Papa in Wellington, the Sealord New Zealand Water Safety Awards for 2011 were presented. The awards and the dinner ceremony were one of the highlights of Water Our Fatal Attraction: The New Zealand Water Safety Conference 2011.

Outstanding Contribution Winner 2011
Paul Caffyn, Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers

Other Category award winners were –

Education Category Winner 2011

Swim Safe Southland – Learn to Swim Programme

Prevention Category Winner 2011

Maritime New Zealand – Folau Malu (Safer Journeys) Campaign

Awareness Category Winner 2011

Christchurch City Council Recreation and Sports Unit, Swim Education Team, SwimSmart Programme.

Matt Claridge, the CEO, of Water Safety New Zealand, said it was encouraging to receive so many quality nominations in 2011, “The water safety sector has embraced these Awards and again this year the judges were challenged with an extremely hard task of choosing winners from a large group of excellent candidates across all categories. We are truly fortunate to have such dedicated and talented people working in our sector.”

Winners of each Award category, who receive $2,500 towards professional development in the field of water safety, were presented with Sealord New Zealand Water Safety Award 2011 Trophies by Sealord General Manager, New Zealand Business Unit, David Welsh.

“Sealord is delighted to be associated with the Water Safety Awards for 2011,” said David Welsh. “It is important to recognize and share successful initiatives – in the water safety sector this success is measured in lives. Congratulations to all winners of the Sealord New Zealand Water Safety Awards for 2011.”