Western Heights (Rotorua District)
Safety Score (12-month average)
23
–
Crime rate
49.3 per 1,000
Population 2,496
Total crimes (past 12 months)
123
Trend (last 3 months)
▼ 39.5%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#48 / 157
Top 31%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Updated August 2026Western Heights (Rotorua District) Overview
Most common offences by count were burglary (43.1%), theft (34.1%), and assault (17.9%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Western Heights (Rotorua District) is 49.2788 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 48 within Bay of Plenty Region. The overall crime trend in the area has decreased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Dec 2025, Feb 2026, Mar 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in December 2025, February 2026, and March 2026.
Western Heights (Rotorua District) crime statistics: common questions
Is Western Heights (Rotorua District) safe?
Western Heights (Rotorua District) recorded 123 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 49.3 per 1,000 residents across about 2,496 residents. These are offences recorded by New Zealand Police, which reflect what was reported and recorded rather than all crime that occurred.
What is the crime rate in Western Heights (Rotorua District)?
The crime rate in Western Heights (Rotorua District) is 49.3 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 123 recorded offences across about 2,496 residents. A rate counts offences against a suburb's resident population, so town centres and commercial areas can show high rates because offences there involve people who do not live there.
What is the most common crime in Western Heights (Rotorua District)?
The most common offence category in Western Heights (Rotorua District) is burglary, with 53 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 43% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is theft (42).
Is crime going up or down in Western Heights (Rotorua District)?
Recorded offences in Western Heights (Rotorua District) have fallen 39.5% over the most recent three-month period compared with the previous three months. This is a three-month comparison, not a year-on-year one, and short windows move around a lot in small areas.
How does Western Heights (Rotorua District) compare with other suburbs in Bay of Plenty Region?
Western Heights (Rotorua District) ranks 48 of 157 suburbs in Bay of Plenty Region by crime rate, where 1 is the highest rate. This is a ranking of recorded crime, not a safety rating, and it compares Western Heights (Rotorua District) only with other suburbs in Bay of Plenty Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Western Heights (Rotorua District) come from?
Figures for Western Heights (Rotorua District), Rotorua District come from New Zealand Police recorded victimisation data, published through police.govt.nz, and are grouped to Stats NZ Statistical Area 2 (SA2) boundaries. They count offences recorded by Police, so they reflect reporting and recording practice as well as underlying offending.
Looking for a plain-English safety summary?
👉 See how safe Western Heights (Rotorua District) is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz