In addition, accident injuries are no different in Otago than anywhere else in the country.
Last year’s holiday injury totals in Otago were down from the five-year high set in 2018-19, but this year, ACC injury prevention leader Kirsten Malpas again urged people to take care and slow down.
In the previous corresponding period, from December 21 to January 10, there were 5525 ACC injury claims in Otago.
On New Year’s Eve last year there were 354, giving the last day of the year the highest single-day total for accident claims in Otago over the holidays.
Across the country over the last summer holidays there were 103,248 ACC injury claims and more than $100 million spent to help people recover, Ms Malpas said.
She said she wanted people to have a happy, fun and safe Christmas and New Year break.
"That means being kind to yourself and others and staying safe so you can enjoy the summer break and not miss out on the fun," she said.
Across New Zealand, about 4000 people injured themselves on Christmas Day, she said.
The home was the most common location for injuries during the holiday period, there being 59,967 injuries.
Falls made up 40% of those, Ms Malpas said.
Nearly 15,000 injuries during the holidays involved a lifting or carrying strain, more than 4000 involved steps and stairs, and nearly 7000 were animal related.
The holidays was also a time when people undertook renovations and tidying up, she said.
There were 4798 gardening-related injuries last festive season and 2046 DIY-related injuries.
The most common injury was a lumbar sprain (10,163), ahead of a neck sprain (4425) and an ankle sprain (4376).
Last year’s Otago injury claims were down from the summer holidays of 2018-19, when there were 6165, the highest number of claims over the past five summers.
