Rutherford
Safety Score (12-month average)
53
–
Crime rate
24.0 per 1,000
Population 2,541
Total crimes (past 12 months)
61
Trend (last 3 months)
▼ 35.3%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#11 / 28
Top 39%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Updated August 2026Rutherford Overview
Most common offences by count were burglary (31.1%), theft (31.1%), and assault (29.5%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Rutherford is 24.0063 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 11 within Nelson Region. The overall crime trend in the area has decreased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Aug 2025, Sep 2025, Mar 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in August 2025, September 2025, and March 2026.
Rutherford crime statistics: common questions
Is Rutherford safe?
Rutherford recorded 61 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 24.0 per 1,000 residents across about 2,541 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 Rutherford?
The crime rate in Rutherford is 24.0 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 61 recorded offences across about 2,541 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 Rutherford?
The most common offence category in Rutherford is burglary, with 19 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 31% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is theft (19).
Is crime going up or down in Rutherford?
Recorded offences in Rutherford have fallen 35.3% 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 Rutherford compare with other suburbs in Nelson Region?
Rutherford ranks 11 of 28 suburbs in Nelson Region by crime rate, where 1 is the highest rate. This is a ranking of recorded crime, not a safety rating, and it compares Rutherford only with other suburbs in Nelson Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Rutherford come from?
Figures for Rutherford, Nelson 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 Rutherford is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz