“It was probably just the choices that we made, that it was wrong and it cost my brother’s life,” Vaa’i said. In a video interview for Water Safety New Zealand, he said he could remember the desperate moments in the water as he scrambled to safety. Photo / Photosport‘Concerning trend’Vaa’i acknowledged the importance of improving water safety outcomes for Pasifika communities, which account for about 8% of drowning fatalities nationally, rising to 17% in Auckland. Water Safety New Zealand said a designated adult needs to be with every individual child around water. Water Safety New Zealand said if you have been drinking alcohol, don’t walk home near water.

Source: New Zealand Herald December 24, 2025 04:47 UTC