Drowning is the third cause of injury death across all age groups. Internationally and within New Zealand, alcohol has also been associated with drowning. In 1999, the Injury Prevention Research Centre (IPRC) conducted Stage I of the Boating Safety Survey in the form of a pre-intervention boating survey.
Baseline data on alcohol use among boaters in the Auckland region was collected and analysed as part of preparations for developing and evaluating an interventions study that addressed alcohol use on the water during the America’s Cup and millennium celebrations in Auckland. This study was jointly funded by the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC) and the Maritime Safety Authority (MSA).
Methodology
Following review of campaign materials, a list of key informants was drawn up. These key informants were selected because of their involvement in: 1) the Safe Summer 2000 campaign; and/or 2) their decision making roles and responsibilities in water safety.
Letters were sent to each key informant advising them of the evaluation and requesting their cooperation. A format for an interview was developed and piloted. Each key informant was then contacted by telephone by a member of the evaluation team. All key informants contacted agreed to be interviewed over the telephone.
Only two of the suggested informants, despite numerous calls, could not be contacted. One was a Member of Parliament and the other was heading a Government enquiry. Informants included representatives from: the Auckland Regional Authority; the Coastguard; the Auckland Maritime Police; the Maritime Safety Authority; the Land Transport Safety Authority; the Police; Water Safety Auckland; Northland Health; a boating magazine; Yachting New Zealand; the Boating Industries Association; the Maritime Transport Association; a marina; the Auckland Yachting and Boating Association; the America’s Cup project co-ordination team; and a harbourmaster from outside Auckland.
The same staff member conducted all telephone interviews and analysed the data. Data was analysed manually. Any direct quotes used in this report are in italics.