Papanui West
Safety Score (12-month average)
38
–
Crime rate
40.1 per 1,000
Population 2,970
Total crimes (past 12 months)
119
Trend (last 3 months)
▼ 14.7%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#135 / 331
Top 41%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Updated August 2026Papanui West Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (57.1%), burglary (34.5%), and assault (5.9%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Papanui West is 40.0673 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 135 within Canterbury Region. The overall crime trend in the area has decreased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Oct 2025, Nov 2025, Mar 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in October 2025, November 2025, and March 2026.
Papanui West crime statistics: common questions
Is Papanui West safe?
Papanui West recorded 119 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 40.1 per 1,000 residents across about 2,970 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 Papanui West?
The crime rate in Papanui West is 40.1 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 119 recorded offences across about 2,970 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 Papanui West?
The most common offence category in Papanui West is theft, with 68 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 57% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (41).
Is crime going up or down in Papanui West?
Recorded offences in Papanui West have fallen 14.7% 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 Papanui West compare with other suburbs in Canterbury Region?
Papanui West ranks 135 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 Papanui West only with other suburbs in Canterbury Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Papanui West come from?
Figures for Papanui West, 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 Papanui West is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz