Northwood
Safety Score (12-month average)
40
–
Crime rate
47.3 per 1,000
Population 3,444
Total crimes (past 12 months)
163
Trend (last 3 months)
▲ 7.7%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#114 / 331
Top 34%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Updated August 2026Northwood Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (78.5%) and burglary (17.8%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Northwood is 47.3287 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 114 within Canterbury Region. The overall crime trend in the area has remained the same in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Oct 2025, Jan 2026, Apr 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in October 2025, January 2026, and April 2026.
Northwood crime statistics: common questions
Is Northwood safe?
Northwood recorded 163 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 47.3 per 1,000 residents across about 3,444 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 Northwood?
The crime rate in Northwood is 47.3 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 163 recorded offences across about 3,444 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 Northwood?
The most common offence category in Northwood is theft, with 128 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 79% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (29).
Is crime going up or down in Northwood?
Recorded offences in Northwood have risen 7.7% 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 Northwood compare with other suburbs in Canterbury Region?
Northwood ranks 114 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 Northwood only with other suburbs in Canterbury Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Northwood come from?
Figures for Northwood, Christchurch City 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 Northwood is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz