Northland Taniwha Partner with Water Safety New Zealand to Protect Te Tai Tokerau Whānau

WHANGĀREI — As the Northland Taniwha prepare to kick off their 2026 National Provincial Championship campaign this weekend, the team is taking on a vital new role off the field. Northland Rugby has announced a formal partnership with Water Safety New Zealand, aiming to use the profile of the Taniwha to address the high rate of drowning fatalities in Te Tai Tokerau. The initiative comes at a critical time, as current modelling from Water Safety New Zealand suggests 2026 could be one of the deadliest years for water incidents in over a decade. Already this year, 57 preventable drownings have been recorded across Aotearoa. In Northland specifically, Māori and men aged 35 and over are disproportionately represented in the statistics, particularly those gathering kai or using small craft. Data shows that 27 percent of all Māori kai gathering drowning deaths nationwide since 2000 have occurred in the Northland region. Water Safety New Zealand Chief Executive Glen Scanlon says the Taniwha hold immense mana throughout the region and are perfectly positioned to influence safer behaviours. The campaign focuses on encouraging water users to look after their 'teammates' by never entering the water alone—noting that 64 percent of victims this year were alone at the time of the incident. Scanlon emphasises that changing these trends requires trusted local voices working alongside the community. Northland Rugby Commercial and Marketing Manager Kristin Fraser says the partnership reflects the Taniwha’s commitment to their people beyond the rugby pitch. With water being central to life in the North, Fraser notes that if the team can inspire even one person to make a safer decision at the beach or harbour, the partnership will have achieved a meaningful goal for the community.