South Hill

Waitaki DistrictOtago Region
Last updated:

Safety Score (12-month average)

64

Crime rate

12.6 per 1,000

Population 2,214

Total crimes (past 12 months)

28

Trend (last 3 months)

▲ 125.0%

vs previous 3-month period

Regional rank

#75 / 138

Bottom 46%

Safety Score (NZCHI)

Updated August 2026

South Hill Overview

Crime Count
No data
0
20
50
100
Assault
Sexual offences
Burglary
Theft

Most common offences by count were theft (42.9%), burglary (39.3%), and assault (14.3%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.

Crime Summary

The annual total crime rate in South Hill is 12.6468 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 75 within Otago Region. The overall crime trend in the area has increased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Dec 2025, Feb 2026, Apr 2026.

Crime activity peaked in December 2025, February 2026, and April 2026.

South Hill crime statistics: common questions

Is South Hill safe?

South Hill recorded 28 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 12.6 per 1,000 residents across about 2,214 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 South Hill?

The crime rate in South Hill is 12.6 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 28 recorded offences across about 2,214 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 South Hill?

The most common offence category in South Hill is theft, with 12 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 43% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (11).

Is crime going up or down in South Hill?

Recorded offences in South Hill have risen 125.0% 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 South Hill compare with other suburbs in Otago Region?

South Hill ranks 75 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 South Hill only with other suburbs in Otago Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.

Where does the crime data for South Hill come from?

Figures for South Hill, Waitaki 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 South Hill is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz