Drownings are at an eight-year high in the country, with a significant rise in the deaths of pre-schoolers and Asian people.

So far this year in Tauranga, there has been one drowning after a boating accident in the estuary just of Tye Park in Welcome Bay.

Surf Rescue Life Savers have also attended several near drownings on Papamoa and Mount Maunganui beaches this year.

Water Safety New Zealand says 123 people drowned in 2011, up 41 per cent on the record low of 87 in 2010.

Chief executive Matt Claridge says to go from a record low to an eight-year high is a tragedy.

'We will continue to do everything we can to inform and educate people about water safety to ensure 2012 is a better year.”

Fourteen children aged under five drowned last year including a toddler in Waihi -the highest number since 2002 and up 75 per cent on the five-year average.

'Young children are extremely vulnerable around water and caregivers need to be reminded to provide active supervision - that is, keep the child within arms reach at all times,” says Matt.

He says there were 18 drownings of people of Asian descent, three times the average number recorded between 2006 and 2010.

'We're in the final stages of developing an education campaign specifically targeting people of Asian origin.”

Men made up 80 per cent of deaths.

Of the 123 deaths, 66 died during recreational activities such as fishing, sailing and swimming.

Matt says many of the recreational deaths could have been prevented by safety basics such as wearing life jackets, checking weather forecasts and avoiding alcohol.

Twenty-four were in non-recreational settings and 30 were listed as''other activities', such as suicide, homicide and road vehicle incidents. Three were unknown.

'2012 has already started poorly with 15 drownings," says Matt. "People need to make water safety a priority.”