Cairnbrae
Safety Score (12-month average)
93
–
Crime rate
11.4 per 1,000
Population 1,398
Total crimes (past 12 months)
16
Trend (last 3 months)
▲ 300.0%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#281 / 331
Bottom 15%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Police data to August 2026Cairnbrae Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (75.0%) and burglary (25.0%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Cairnbrae is 11.4449 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 281 within Canterbury Region. The overall crime trend in the area has increased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Mar 2026, Jul 2026, Aug 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in March, July, and August 2026.
Cairnbrae crime statistics: common questions
Is Cairnbrae safe?
Cairnbrae recorded 16 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 11.4 per 1,000 residents across about 1,398 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 Cairnbrae?
The crime rate in Cairnbrae is 11.4 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 16 recorded offences across about 1,398 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 Cairnbrae?
The most common offence category in Cairnbrae is theft, with 12 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 75% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (4).
Is crime going up or down in Cairnbrae?
Recorded offences in Cairnbrae have risen 300.0% 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 Cairnbrae compare with other suburbs in Canterbury Region?
Cairnbrae ranks 281 of 331 suburbs in Canterbury Region by crime rate, where 1 is the highest rate. This is a ranking of recorded crime, not a safety rating, and it compares Cairnbrae only with other suburbs in Canterbury Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Cairnbrae come from?
Figures for Cairnbrae, Ashburton 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 Cairnbrae is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz