Fernhill
Safety Score (12-month average)
16
–
Crime rate
54.7 per 1,000
Population 1,644
Total crimes (past 12 months)
90
Trend (last 3 months)
▼ 11.5%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#16 / 138
Top 12%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Updated August 2026Fernhill Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (44.4%), burglary (36.7%), and assault (15.6%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Fernhill is 54.7445 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 16 within Otago Region. The overall crime trend in the area has decreased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Feb 2026, Mar 2026, May 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in February, March, and May 2026.
Fernhill crime statistics: common questions
Is Fernhill safe?
Fernhill recorded 90 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 54.7 per 1,000 residents across about 1,644 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 Fernhill?
The crime rate in Fernhill is 54.7 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 90 recorded offences across about 1,644 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 Fernhill?
The most common offence category in Fernhill is theft, with 40 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 44% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (33).
Is crime going up or down in Fernhill?
Recorded offences in Fernhill have fallen 11.5% 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 Fernhill compare with other suburbs in Otago Region?
Fernhill ranks 16 of 138 suburbs in Otago Region by crime rate, where 1 is the highest rate. This is a ranking of recorded crime, not a safety rating, and it compares Fernhill only with other suburbs in Otago Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Fernhill come from?
Figures for Fernhill, Dunedin 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 Fernhill is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz