Yesterday during this programme we heard of a drowning tragedy at Muriwai Beach

A pair of New Zealanders, refugees from Myanmar who had been in the country for 20 years were fishing on the Muriwai Rocks. They went fairly often and they loved it.

The husband and wife have nine children, the youngest just seven years old, and one grandchild.

Some of the children were present when their father first slipped off the rocks while trying to haul in a fish. His wife held out a rod for him to grab, but she too fell into the surging water. Both were battered against the rocks. Despite the efforts of rescue crews the pair died at the scene.

It was monumentally sad.

So the deaths were quickly labelled an all-too-common tragedy by Rodney local board deputy chair Phelan Pirrie, as people constantly underestimate the dangers of the West Coast. He says the council has put up signs, and they get bigger after each tragedy.

But a sign is just a sign.

As I heard the story unfold, two words just kept popping into my mind. Two words that could have prevented the nine children being without parents. Two words that meant the pair could have fished another day and enjoyed many more summers together.

The two words were life jacket. The couple were not wearing life jackets. They were wearing heavy winter clothes. Clothes that when they hit the water dragged them down faster.

Making a call that rock fishers wear life jackets is not new. The water safety group Drowning Protection has run a campaign for 12 years trying to stop people from rock-fishing without lifejackets.

Today, they still call that campaign a success despite yesterday’s tragedy. The say the number of rock fishing drownings has dropped from nine in 2005 to none last year. But they are still concerned that too many people step on to known dangerous rocks without them and when pushed they say it’s about cost.

I understand that but I can’t accept that. A life jacket costs $100. It’s a bargain. How much was your rod? How much did it cost you to drive there? How much did your winter jacket cost? How much were the sneakers on your feet? How much will two funerals cost?

On the Muriwai Rocks, a lifejacket is just as essential as a pair of shoes, a jacket or a rod. Just do it.