Is crime REALLY a problem?

There has been a few conflicting views on whether or not crime is a real issue in New Zealand. The truth of the matter? Well, I suppose we can only base it on the country we come from. For a realistic insight in to what you may consider a problem or not, visit the link below to view the actual recorded statistics by the New Zealand Police, then try to find the same stats for your own country. It has to be the best comparison!

http://www.police.govt.nz/service/st...2003/calendar/

Really speaking, unless you live on a remote, deserted island, then you are going to live with crime! I personally dont think these stats show a problem, what do you think?

[Inzvestor]

Crime is no worse in NZ than in Australia or the UK.

The fact that our population is so low means that more crime stats and incidents make the news.

If the UK had only 4 million people (ie about a third of London) then you would hear more about the crime etc too.

News in the UK is censored and internationally focussed.
News in NZ is NZ focussed and reports on community events are not uncommon.

In my opinion NZ *is* a safe place to live in.
I don't feel threatened in my own country.

[cyberjimmy]

I haven't really come a cropper myself, but I get the impression that the occurence of crime isn't any different to any other country I lived in.

There's a proliferation of gangs in NZ with names like the Mongrel Mob, Filfthy Few, Head Hunters and Black Power who seem to be involved in at least some of the organised crime, namely illegal drug manufacture and supply. Films such as Once Were Warriors, and it's sequel, What Became of the Broken Hearted, are based on fact not fiction, although a lot of that violent gang scene has died off in recent years, and if truth be told they pretty much keep to themselves anyway.

Crime is probably under reported if anything in the UK, and over reported in NZ. I've often thumbed through the pages of The Herald or Dominion Post, and thought to myself, hmm, nothing happened in NZ again today!

Funnily enough, I don't feel threatened in my own country either, but then again maybe it's what you know, what you're used to and how streetwise you are. London isn't a fair comparison in any case. An awful lot of places are tame next to London. And likewise London is pretty tame next to some other places. New York for example is a zoo, isn't it?!

I live in auckland, and I always read about burglars in my area (St. Heliers) but my house is still safe.
As in any city in the world, if you stay away from downtown at night or from the 'bad' neighborhoods it's ok.
But yeah, maori gangs are a problem and those can be some really scare guys.
I was sitting the other day on a beach side cafe about 3 blocks from my house, and this car with a bunch of maoris kept driving by yelling and insulting at all the people. And of course, not a police car around, ever.
I feel safer than say, Mexico City , where I lived for a year, but it's not really paradise.

In your honest opinion though, is this something that is limited to certain areas, ie Auckland, or is it widespread throughout NZ? I've noticed that the only people who seem to experience difficulties with high crime and things like maori gangs are living in or around Auckland or Northland.

Is this right or is it a problem all over? I appreciate Auckland is the largest city in NZ, so it stands to reason that the more people, the more crime, but what about places like Wellington or Christchurch? Both are fairly large cities, do they have these/similar problems?

You could say it is limited to certain areas. In Auckland, the South Auckland area will always come up trumps when talking about crime/gangs etc etc. There are other areas in NZ that get a mention more often than not - Highbury in Palmerston North, Wairoa in the Hawke's Bay, Otara, Mangere, Manurewa and Otahuhu in the South Auckland area, Mangakino in the South Waikato, and other places that don't come to mind at the moment. All these places have alot in common - poverty, crime, gangs, overcrowding?? etc.
Skinheads are the prevelant feature in ChCh (or so I heard)

Hey all,

This is an interesting one and one that my Mum in particular is concerned about! She went to NZ to see her sister a few years ago and when she was there, there was a murder in Hamilton (where my Auntie lives). Now she thinks that all of NZ is a terribly dangerous place. I live in Birmingham and try to tell her that it is twice as dangerous here as it is there.

When I lived there for a year I experienced very little crime personally. I realise that this doesn't mean there isn't any, just that I was lucky. Having said that I lived in a suburb of Auckland and was more than happy to leave the front door open all day - as were my neighbours. I don't think that happens in Brum any more... It's all relative as they say.

Nowhere in the world is safe from crime, but I think that if you are going to be somewhere with crime why not make it New Zealand. NZ has a stronger sense of community than most of the UK and if you are a victim of crime you can count on your neighbours to support you.

So, no crime isn't REALLY a problem - or at least no more so than Birmingham, London, Manchester, Hemel Hempstead, Nottingham...

Dan-ish :P