Whakatāne West
Safety Score (12-month average)
37
–
Crime rate
32.3 per 1,000
Population 3,432
Total crimes (past 12 months)
111
Trend (last 3 months)
▲ 29.2%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#75 / 157
Top 48%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Updated August 2026Whakatāne West Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (48.6%), burglary (29.7%), and assault (15.3%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Whakatāne West is 32.3427 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 75 within Bay of Plenty Region. The overall crime trend in the area has increased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Nov 2025, Apr 2026, May 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in November 2025, April 2026, and May 2026.
Whakatāne West crime statistics: common questions
Is Whakatāne West safe?
Whakatāne West recorded 111 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 32.3 per 1,000 residents across about 3,432 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 Whakatāne West?
The crime rate in Whakatāne West is 32.3 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 111 recorded offences across about 3,432 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 Whakatāne West?
The most common offence category in Whakatāne West is theft, with 54 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 49% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (33).
Is crime going up or down in Whakatāne West?
Recorded offences in Whakatāne West have risen 29.2% 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 Whakatāne West compare with other suburbs in Bay of Plenty Region?
Whakatāne West ranks 75 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 Whakatāne West only with other suburbs in Bay of Plenty Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Whakatāne West come from?
Figures for Whakatāne West, Whakatane 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 Whakatāne West is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz