Renewed Calls for Portable Pool Ban After Child’s Death in New Zealand

Concerns over the safety of portable pools in New Zealand are escalating following the death of a ten-month-old boy, Majura Rapi-Davis and a recent surge in childhood drownings. Coroners are renewing calls for a ban on the sale of these pools, citing inherent design flaws and inadequate safety measures, though government officials remain hesitant to implement such a restriction.

Tragic Incident and Coroner’s Findings

On Boxing Day 2022, Majura Rapi-Davis died in a portable inflatable pool at his home in Pukekohe. The pool contained approximately 320 millimeters of water, roughly the height of a standard school ruler. Associate Coroner James Buckle determined that the soft-sided pool’s design allowed it to collapse inwards when pressure was applied, preventing the child from being able to climb out RNZ.

“Since the top of the pool collapsed in when weight was put on it but did not collapse out, Baby Majura was not able to climb out without help,” Coroner Buckle stated in his report.

Growing Number of Drownings

This incident is not isolated. In March 2023, a 20-month-old child died in a temporary pool in Napier, prompting Water Safety NZ to also call for a ban 1News. This followed a previous investigation by Coroner Michael Robb into the drownings of eight children under the age of six during the 2021-2022 summer, which also recommended a ban.

Water Safety New Zealand reports that two children under the age of five have already drowned in portable pools in the first two months of 2026, a type of fatality that was virtually nonexistent a decade ago RNZ.

Coroner’s Recommendations

Coroner Buckle has endorsed the previous recommendation from Coroner Robb to discontinue the sale of temporary pools less than 1.2 meters in height, stating, “The cost of these pools has become the lives of children.” NZ Herald.

Beyond a sales ban, Coroner Buckle has proposed additional measures, including:

• Law changes to regulate the promotion, advertising, and packaging of temporary pools, requiring depictions of pools to demonstrate compliance with safety legislation.
• Clear labeling on packaging stating that necessary safety barriers are not included with the pool.
• Government-funded research into the sale, employ, misuse, and impact of portable pools on drowning rates in New Zealand.
• Research into design improvements to enhance the safety of portable pools.

Government Response

Despite the repeated calls for action, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has indicated that a ban is unlikely. MBIE argues that implementing a ban would require significant policy work and may not be a straightforward solution RNZ. Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Scott Simpson stated he will consider the coroner’s report but is not currently planning to ban the pools NZ Herald.

Specific Pool Size Concerns

Coroner Buckle is specifically calling for a ban on portable pools between 400 millimeters and 1.2 meters in height PressReader.

Water Safety NZ emphasizes that these pools are often inexpensive but frequently left unfenced, creating a significant drowning risk. Gavin Walker of Water Safety NZ stated, “Any unfenced pool is a tragedy waiting to happen. A split-second distraction can have devastating implications for our youngest and most vulnerable.” RNZ.