Kauwhata
Safety Score (12-month average)
52
–
Crime rate
29.3 per 1,000
Population 2,085
Total crimes (past 12 months)
61
Trend (last 3 months)
→ 0.0%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#81 / 143
Bottom 43%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Updated August 2026Kauwhata Overview
Most common offences by count were burglary (57.4%), theft (27.9%), and assault (9.8%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Kauwhata is 29.2566 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 81 within Manawatū-Whanganui Region. The overall crime trend in the area has remained the same in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Oct 2025, Dec 2025, May 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in October 2025, December 2025, and May 2026.
Kauwhata crime statistics: common questions
Is Kauwhata safe?
Kauwhata recorded 61 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 29.3 per 1,000 residents across about 2,085 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 Kauwhata?
The crime rate in Kauwhata is 29.3 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 61 recorded offences across about 2,085 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 Kauwhata?
The most common offence category in Kauwhata is burglary, with 35 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 57% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is theft (17).
Is crime going up or down in Kauwhata?
Recorded offences in Kauwhata 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 Kauwhata compare with other suburbs in Manawatū-Whanganui Region?
Kauwhata ranks 81 of 143 suburbs in Manawatū-Whanganui Region by crime rate, where 1 is the highest rate. This is a ranking of recorded crime, not a safety rating, and it compares Kauwhata only with other suburbs in Manawatū-Whanganui Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Kauwhata come from?
Figures for Kauwhata, Manawatu 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 Kauwhata is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz