Christchurch NZ's safest city

Christchurch is New Zealand's safest large city, despite public opinion.

Police Christchurch Central Area Controller Inspector Derek Erasmus said Christchurch had recorded 100 violent offences per 10,000 population – lower than Wellington, Auckland, South Auckland, Hamilton and Dunedin – making it the country's safest large city.

However, the 2008 Quality of Life survey released today, which compared 12 New Zealand cities, found Christchurch had the lowest number of residents who felt safe in the city centre after dark.

"Many perceptions about safety in Christchurch are not based on fact," Mr Erasmus said.

Incidents of serious violence were highlighted by local media, yet there were fewer than in other major centres.

The media had a big influence on people's perception of their safety, Mr Erasmus said.

"This is very disappointing given that reality does not support these fears."

Police had been working closely with the Christchurch City Council and other agencies to alleviate public concerns, he said.

They had introduced Safer City officers in the central city at night to increase the perception of enforcement, and to be an extension of police in areas that people congregated.

The council had also funded 25 new crime cameras to target city `hotspots', which were being installed, Mr Erasmus said.

"The best location for cameras is constantly assessed and they are relocated to suit demand and social movement in city.

"The cameras' prime focus for police is public safety as a deterrent, and locating offenders," he said.

- NZPA http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2316397/Christchurch-NZs-safest-city

There are differences in how they record offenses due to the comparison between different countries. Also I suspect that if you lived in a small town just outside of the city you would have about the same rate of crime you experience in your town, apples to apples so to speak.

I fall in the Skilled Migrant category. The age limit for that group is 56.

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/i20654.htm

I imagine its something to do with how crimes are recorded or something because there are not excessive amounts of crime.

The only crime that I know is somewhat rampant is people burgling student flats for their laptops.

Cool. Do you still live there?

There is this new community opening up called Pegasus Town near Chch. I can't tell if it's the coolest thing I have seen, or the craziest worst thing I have seen. Do you know anything about it?

http://www.pegasustown.com/

Wow, I had not heard of that one. I had not seen anything but im going to browse it to see what its made of.

Edit: Pretty amazing but I do not yet have the economic resources to live there.

Never heard of that Pegusus town but it sounds like something that will fail hideously. And yeah, during the year I live in Chch still.

I hope not, as that's where I plan to apply for work.

Oh, and I am drunk off my ass right now, so that alone should qualify me for a Kiwi right :)

Actually they pre-sold 50% of the properties before they began. I had a look through the sub division map and they are pretty well booked though theres still a decent number of sections available <25% is what I reckon anyway.

Cool.

If I move, I will come visit you, and buy you lunch. It's the least I can do for spec'ing out my PC (aside from a 5870, I still have the same setup) :)

I live in Christchurch, its a great city. Most pros/cons have already been covered.

Other than Massive City events etc you're able to do pretty much anything, and as mentioned generally anything is within 1 and a half hours drive.

Pegasus Town will be a good spot to live, as is any Satellite town of Christchurch.

Current Population is approx 380,000, however its more like 410,000 when including aforementioned satellite towns when speaking of employment, night-life and recreation.

As for climate, its pretty stedy, dropping to -5 if you're lucky in the winter and up to 30 on the odd Summer day. Average in summer is probably around 20 and winter around 10. It was 32 Degrees today (Celcius of coruse).

Remember we have no idea what a Mile or Fahrenheit means :D!