Kawerau Central
Safety Score (12-month average)
9
–
Crime rate
86.6 per 1,000
Population 2,634
Total crimes (past 12 months)
228
Trend (last 3 months)
→ 0.0%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#24 / 157
Top 15%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Updated August 2026Kawerau Central Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (53.1%), burglary (23.2%), and assault (18.4%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Kawerau Central is 86.5604 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 24 within Bay of Plenty Region. The overall crime trend in the area has remained the same in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Aug 2025, Jan 2026, Feb 2026.
Crime activity peaked in August 2025, January 2026, and February 2026.
Kawerau Central crime statistics: common questions
Is Kawerau Central safe?
Kawerau Central recorded 228 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 86.6 per 1,000 residents across about 2,634 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 Kawerau Central?
The crime rate in Kawerau Central is 86.6 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 228 recorded offences across about 2,634 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 Kawerau Central?
The most common offence category in Kawerau Central is theft, with 121 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 53% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (53).
Is crime going up or down in Kawerau Central?
Recorded offences in Kawerau Central have stayed level 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 Kawerau Central compare with other suburbs in Bay of Plenty Region?
Kawerau Central ranks 24 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 Kawerau Central only with other suburbs in Bay of Plenty Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Kawerau Central come from?
Figures for Kawerau Central, Kawerau 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 Kawerau Central is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz