Caregivers will face tighter rules on the supervision of children at Dunedin pools because of the number of near drownings of under 10s.
Moana Pool manager Nicola Smith said 18 of the 21 water rescues at the pool in the past year had been children aged 5-9.
In the past four years, 90% of rescues at the pool involved children under 10, she said.
The new policy would require children under the age of 10 to be under ''active'' supervision (caregivers must watch their children at all times and be able to physically assist) and wear wristbands identifying them as being part of the high risk group.
Parents of children under 5 will be required to be in the water with their child.
At present, children over 8 do not require supervision and caregivers of under-5s must be within arm's reach of the child.
Children under 9 would need to be accompanied to and from swimming lessons and under-5s accompanied for the whole lesson, Ms Smith said.
The changes were similar to those at pools in Invercargill and Auckland.
The policy begins on July 24.
