 The Safest City in New Zealand
Adopted 2005
Christchurch’s 344,000 residents live in a city of stunning natural beauty bordered by hills and the Pacific Ocean, on the edge of the Canterbury plains which stretch to the Southern Alps.
It’s a vibrant, multicultural city and the international gateway for millions of overseas visitors every year, offering easy access to all the attractions which the South Island has to offer. In short, it’s a great place to live, work and visit.
Christchurch is generally also a safe place to be, but as the biggest city in the South Island and the second largest in New Zealand, Christchurch faces many of the safety issues experienced by other cities around the world.
The Safer Christchurch Strategy aims to make Christchurch “the safest city in New Zealand” for both residents and visitors.
Why the Strategy?
The people of Christchurch say they want “a safe city” where “we live free from crime, violence abuse and injury. We are safe at home and in the community. Risks from hazards are managed and mitigated.”* (*Public consultation for Christchurch City Council’s Long Term Council Community Plan LTCCP)
Although for most of us, Christchurch feels like a safe place to live, most of the time*, there’s still more we can do to make sure Christchurch is an even safer place to be.
In response to this, the Safer Christchurch Strategy gives a unified approach to crime prevention, injury prevention and road safety. It sets out a wide range of actions and targets for the city’s safety and crime prevention agencies to achieve.
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 Bringing the community together
What makes the Strategy different is that it brings together, for the first time, the work of government agencies and community organisations whose focus is on creating a safer Christchurch. They include central and local government bodies, local iwi and community organisations. In turn, their partnership brings on board a huge number of smaller agencies who also contribute to making the city a safer place.
The Safer Christchurch partners are:
Accident Compensation Corporation, Canterbury District Health Board, Child Youth and Family, Christchurch City Council, Christchurch Police, Department of Internal Affairs, Housing New Zealand, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, Ministry of Social Development – Family and Community Services, Ministry of Social Development – Work and Income, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, The Department of Corrections, as well as representatives of groups working with youth, families and older people across the city.
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The approach
The Strategy sets out an approach which focuses on:
- Collective action – the whole community has a role to play in injury prevention and safety promotion
- Collaboration and coordination - between central and local government, iwi, non-government organisations, community organisations and community networks
- Proactive rather than reactive – where possible, agencies will anticipate and respond to issues in the city
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Goals and objectives
GOAL 1: Reduce the incidence of injury in our community
- Provide active support to locally led initiatives that make significant contributions to reducing the incidence of injury.
GOAL 2: Enhance safety on our roads
- Support the implementation of the Christchurch Road Safety Strategy 2004
GOAL 3: Enhance safety from crime through preventative and supportive actions
- Ensure the phased adoption of crime prevention through Environmental Design Principles (CPTED) into city-wide planning and policy
- To promote crime prevention through Environmental Design Principles for application by owners and occupiers of existing buildings and spaces
- Provide active support to locally led initiatives that make significant contributions to reducing the incidence and effect of crime
GOAL 4: Support safety and injury prevention through collaboration and coordination
- Ensure that collaborative relationships are built between central government, local government, iwi, non-government organisations and the community sector.
- To gain accreditation as a World Health Organisation ‘Safe Community’
- Ensure the effective injury prevention, road safety and crime prevention activity through sustained funding arrangements.
- Ensure the phased adoption of public awareness regarding Safer Christchurch and its initiatives.
 World Health Organisation safe city status
The World Health Organisation’s ‘Safe Community’ accreditation recognises the efforts of cities and communities, their organisations and individuals, working together to promote safety and reduce the incidence and/or severity of injuries. Christchurch will be aiming for ‘Safe Community’ status through the partnership approach and achievements of the Safer Christchurch Strategy.
Measuring success
The progress of the Strategy will be measured and reviewed every year. We’ll know we’re succeeding when:
- Rates of crime and injury decline:
- Rates of youth offending decline
- Child abuse and family violence decreases
- Road accidents decline
- Alcohol is a less significant cause of crime and injury
- People feel safe at all times in Christchurch City:
- We feel safe in our homes and neighbourhoods
- We feel safe in the central city, especially at night
- Pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and people with disabilities can move safely around our city
- We feel safe using public transport
- We’re well prepared for natural hazard
- We have excellent safety networks, support people and services
- We know our neighbours
- Excellent support and prevention services are readily available
- We’re confident in our Police, judiciary and other justice services
We will also be making good progress when the city is accredited as a safe city by the World Health Organisation.
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View the Strategy
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