Key points
This indicator measures the percentage of residents who felt ‘very safe’ or ‘safe’ at home, in their neighbourhood, and in the city centre after dark. Perceptions of safety impact on the health and well-being of the individual, family and the wider community.
Baseline data for Waikato regional communities was collected through the 2007 Waikato Community Outcomes Survey commissioned by MARCO and Choosing Futures Waikato. The survey was repeated in 2010. Respondents were asked: ‘Thinking now about issues of crime and safety, and using a scale where 0 = very unsafe and 10 = very safe; please tell me how safe or unsafe you would feel in the following situations…. (a) In your community during the daytime; (b) In your community after dark’.
- The majority of respondents felt safe in their community during the daytime but relatively less safe at night, particularly women. The Waikato Region results were comparable to national results for all New Zealanders.
- The sub-regional results vary by location but it seems that Thames-Coromandel and Otorohanga are perceived as the safest places by residents.
Respondents’ feeling of safety during the daytime – Waikato territorial authority areas 2007 and 2010
Source: 2007 and 2010 Waikato Community Outcomes Survey (International Research Consultants Ltd/MARCO).
Note: The 2010 survey sample included 70 interviews for most districts (100 for Hamilton) but only 21 for Waitomo and 8 for Rotorua. The 2007 survey used a similar sampling method. Hence, the results for Waitomo and Rotorua should be treated with particular caution.
Respondents’ feeling of safety after dark – Waikato territorial authority areas 2007 and 2010
Source: 2007 and 2010 Waikato Community Outcomes Survey (International Research Consultants Ltd/MARCO).
Note: The 2010 survey sample included 70 interviews for most districts (100 for Hamilton) but only 21 for Waitomo and 8 for Rotorua. The 2007 survey used a similar sampling method. Hence, the results for Waitomo and Rotorua should be treated with particular caution.
What agencies are doing
Information currently being collated.
What you can do to help
Information currently being collated.
More information
More detail on this indicator, including how and where this information is collected, is available here.
What we want to achieve
The community outcome we are seeking to achieve by improving perceptions of safety is:
- Our communities and government work together so that we are safe, feel safe and crime is reduced.