Alexandra men take the plunge with new pool programme

A new programme helping men build confidence in the water is launching as a six-week series in Alexandra on Monday 8 June, after participant numbers doubled during a successful trial in May.

Sessions will run from 7:30pm to 8:30pm in a private and supportive environment designed to help men feel more comfortable and confident around water.

The initiative is a collaboration between Sport Central, CODC Aquatics and CODC Welcoming Communities.

Aquatics Manager Carly Lipinski said the programme was partly inspired by the positive response to Women's Wednesdays – a series of 10-week programmes just for women – and by the stark reality that men remain the highest-risk group for drowning in New Zealand.

According to the latest 2025 Drowning Prevention Report from Water Safety New Zealand, drowning remains the leading cause of recreational death in New Zealand. The report highlights that adult men remain the highest risk group, with males accounting for 83% of all drowning deaths. Men over the age of 25 make up around 70% of fatalities, with many incidents occurring during recreational water activities.

“We’ve been running Women’s Wednesdays in Cromwell, and the feedback from participants has been really special,” Carly said.

“We wanted to create a similar opportunity for men, giving them a supportive environment to build confidence and feel more comfortable around water. We live around so much water in Central Otago with our lakes, rivers, pools and waterways, so building capability and learning water safety skills is really important.”

The programme focuses on creating a safe and welcoming environment where men can learn at their own pace, gain confidence, and connect with others in the community. The sessions are open to all abilities, and anyone interested is encouraged to come along and give it a go. A team of instructors and pool staff will be poolside each week to support participants.

Ben Hamilton from Sport Central has been an instructor during the first three sessions, and said, “It’s been awesome to get this programme started and see blokes of all levels wanting to rip in and gain confidence in the water. It doesn’t matter where you’re at in your swimming/water confidence journey, the sessions are for anyone.”

To register, contact Ben at Sports Central: bhamilton@sportotago.co.nz