Western Heights (Rotorua District)

Rotorua District•Bay of Plenty Region
Police data to:

Safety Score (12-month average)

6

–

Crime rate

135.8 per 1,000

Population 2,496

Total crimes (past 12 months)

339

Trend (last 3 months)

▲ 3.6%

vs previous 3-month period

Regional rank

#19 / 157

Top 12%

Safety Score (NZCHI)

Police data to August 2026

Western Heights (Rotorua District) Overview

Crime Count
No data
0
20
50
100
Assault
Sexual offences
Harm or endanger persons
Robbery, blackmail, and extortion
Burglary
Theft

Most common offences by count were theft (71.1%), burglary (18.0%), and assault (9.1%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.

Crime Summary

The annual total crime rate in Western Heights (Rotorua District) is 135.817 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 19 within Bay of Plenty Region. The overall crime trend in the area has remained the same in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Feb 2026, Mar 2026, Jun 2026.

Crime activity peaked in February, March, and June 2026.

Western Heights (Rotorua District) crime statistics: common questions

Is Western Heights (Rotorua District) safe?

Western Heights (Rotorua District) recorded 339 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 135.8 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 135.8 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 339 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 theft, with 241 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 71% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (61).

Is crime going up or down in Western Heights (Rotorua District)?

Recorded offences in Western Heights (Rotorua District) have risen 3.6% 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 19 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.