Papaioea South
Safety Score (12-month average)
7
–
Crime rate
108.5 per 1,000
Population 1,881
Total crimes (past 12 months)
204
Trend (last 3 months)
▼ 11.1%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#13 / 143
Top 9%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Police data to August 2026Papaioea South Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (81.4%), assault (9.3%), and burglary (7.8%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Papaioea South is 108.453 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 13 within Manawatū-Whanganui Region. The overall crime trend in the area has decreased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Nov 2025, Jan 2026, Mar 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in November 2025, January 2026, and March 2026.
Papaioea South crime statistics: common questions
Is Papaioea South safe?
Papaioea South recorded 204 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 108.5 per 1,000 residents across about 1,881 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 Papaioea South?
The crime rate in Papaioea South is 108.5 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 204 recorded offences across about 1,881 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 Papaioea South?
The most common offence category in Papaioea South is theft, with 166 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 81% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is assault (19).
Is crime going up or down in Papaioea South?
Recorded offences in Papaioea South have fallen 11.1% 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 Papaioea South compare with other suburbs in Manawatū-Whanganui Region?
Papaioea South ranks 13 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 Papaioea South only with other suburbs in Manawatū-Whanganui Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Papaioea South come from?
Figures for Papaioea South, Palmerston North 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 Papaioea South is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz