Achieving compliance with pool fencing legislation in New Zealand: how much progress has been made in 10 years?

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess current levels of enforcement and compliance with the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987, and to determine if enforcement activity and compliance has changed since 1997. A postal questionnaire was sent to all of 73 territorial authorities in New Zealand. Main outcome measures include number and rates of swimming pools (per 1000 dwellings and per 1000 population); mean number of building consents and code compliance certificates issued for pools per territorial authority; mean number of pool inspections made per territorial authority; and the proportion of pools complying with the requirements of the Act. There was around a 9% increase in the prevalence of domestic swimming pools in New Zealand, from 46 pools/1000 dwellings in 1997 to 50 pools/1000 dwellings in 2006 was observed. There has been a 65% increase in the proportion of pools reported as complying with the Act. The proportion of authorities reporting a programme of re-inspection for domestic swimming pools increased from 28% in 1997 to 63% in 2006. There has also been an increase in the proportion of domestic swimming pools recorded as complying with the Act. Finally, a considerable improvement in the enforcement and monitoring activities of territorial authorities in New Zealand was found.

Keywords:

• drowning
• swimming pools
• fencing

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by Water Safety New Zealand. The authors thank the territorial authority representatives who completed questionnaires and Hamish Handley from the Department of Building and Housing, Matt Clarridge from Water Safety New Zealand, and Dorothy Begg and Bronwen McNoe from the Injury Prevention Research Unit for their comments on an earlier version of this article.