Northland has highest drowning rate in the country, with middle aged men most at risk 15 Mar, 2021 04:15 AM 5 minutes to read Northland's lifeguard-patrolled surf beaches, like Ocean Beach, at Whangārei Heads, above, are the safest places to swim in the region. Northland's lifeguard-patrolled surf beaches, like Ocean Beach, at Whangārei Heads, above, are the safest places to swim in the region. Mike Dinsdale is Northern Advocate deputy editormike.dinsdale@nzme.co.nznorthernadvocat Middle-aged Northland men are being urged to know their limits and not underestimate the water, with the region having the highest drowning rate in the country. And middle-aged men, those aged 45 and over, are