The Safer Christchurch Interagency Group consists of 21 partners, including
Christchurch City Council, who are working together to make Christchurch a safer place in which to work, play, live and visit.
The Safer Christchurch Strategy, adopted in 2005 and reviewed again in 2008, provides the framework for a co-ordinated community and agency response to crime prevention, injury prevention and road safety.
The overarching aim of the Safer Christchurch Strategy is for Christchurch to become the ‘Safest City in New Zealand’. To achieve this, the Strategy promotes four key goals:
- To reduce the incidence of injury in our community
- To enhance safety on our roads
- To enhance safety from crime through preventative and supportive actions
- To support safety and injury prevention through collaboration and coordination.
All initiatives under the Strategy guided Christchurch in achieving accreditation in 2008 as an International Safe Community, based on criteria developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Celebrating a Safer Christchurch
On 27 February 2010, the Safer Christchurch Interagency Group hosted a special event to promote safety in our city.
Thirty one organisations throughout Christchurch involved in road safety, crime and injury prevention took part in Celebrating a Safer Christchurch.
Organised in conjunction with the Emergency Services Open Day, the early evening event took place at City Mall from 5-9pm, highlighting the efforts of local organisations in helping to keep us safe in the city.
Exhibition stands were occupied by the following organisations:
- St John
- Fire Services
- Age Concern
- Community Patrols
- Kids Coach
- Safe Kids
- Kia Piki
- Christchurch City Council Road Safety
- Office of Ethnic Affairs
- Drug Arm
- Dare
- Women’s Refuge
- Stopping Violence Services
- White Elephant Trust
- YCD
- Canterbury Youth Workers
- Victim Support
- SADD
- AA
- Civil Defence
- Plunket
- Barnados
- Pillars
- Safer Christchurch
- Christchurch City Council Graffiti Office
As well as picking up information brochures and flyers, the public were able to chat to each organisation and find out about the work they do.
Entertainment throughout the evening included interactive displays, food stalls, a breakdancing competition, fire demonstrations and live music along Oxford Terrace. Visitors were encouraged to pick up an event passport on arrival at City Mall, which they could take from stand to stand and get stamped by each organisation. Each passport then went in to a draw to win prizes such as Ellerslie Flower show tickets, Gondola and Tram packages and a signed Crusaders rugby jersey.
Phil Conway, the winner of the signed Crusaders rugby jersey, was delighted with his prize and spoke highly of the event and all the diverse displays. He has since generously donated the jersey to his children’s swim club, to be used as a much needed fundraiser.
Safer Christchurch Manager, Glenn Dobson (right) presents the signed Crusaders rugby jersey to Phil Conway, the happy winner (second left)
The purpose of the event
Carolyn Gallagher, Unit Manager Community Support says the purpose of this event was to give the public an opportunity to see what is being done to safeguard our city.
“As the largest city in the south island and the second largest in New Zealand, Christchurch faces many of the safety issues experienced by other cities throughout the world.
“Unfortunately, the perception of safety in Christchurch is somewhat negative, however the reality is that we are in fact one of the safest places in New Zealand. National Police Crime Statistics reveal that in fact Canterbury has the third lowest rate of crime offences per 10,000 population than any other district in New Zealand. Compared to the other three main centres, Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin, Christchurch has the lowest number of offences.
Carolyn says, “We wanted to hold an event whereby we could start to challenge this negative perception and introduce the public to some of the organisations who are working hard to ensure our city is an enjoyable and safe place in which to live and visit.”
Feedback from the event
Crowds gather to watch the breakdancing competition, City Mall
Sue Ramsay, Crime Prevention Project Facilitator, Safer Christchurch Team, Christchurch City Council
Feedback from the organisations who exhibited their services was overwhelmingly positive.
“It was fantastic and well worth doing again.” “All loved the vibrancy and market feel.”
“It was a great idea to let people know what services we have in Christchurch”.
An impressive 91% of organisations involved said they would participate again next year if a similar event was held. The main reason given for this was that the event helped to raise the profile of the organisers and let the public know about the work each organisation does within the community.
“It enabled us to have contact with the public and raise rich discussion about our display and the objectives that we were promoting.” “It gave us an opportunity to let people know who we are and what we are doing. It was very worthwhile.”
“We received a lot of positive feedback from the pubic.”
“Good community event - see you next year.”
