Catlins

Clutha DistrictOtago Region
Last updated:

Safety Score (12-month average)

62

Crime rate

19.4 per 1,000

Population 1,389

Total crimes (past 12 months)

27

Trend (last 3 months)

▼ 30.8%

vs previous 3-month period

Regional rank

#51 / 138

Top 37%

Safety Score (NZCHI)

Updated August 2026

Catlins Overview

Crime Count
No data
0
20
50
100
Assault
Burglary
Theft

Most common offences by count were burglary (66.7%), theft (25.9%), and assault (7.4%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.

Crime Summary

The annual total crime rate in Catlins is 19.4384 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 51 within Otago Region. The overall crime trend in the area has decreased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Feb 2026, Mar 2026, Apr 2026.

Explore crime in nearby locations

Crime activity peaked in February, March, and April 2026.

Catlins crime statistics: common questions

Is Catlins safe?

Catlins recorded 27 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 19.4 per 1,000 residents across about 1,389 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 Catlins?

The crime rate in Catlins is 19.4 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 27 recorded offences across about 1,389 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 Catlins?

The most common offence category in Catlins is burglary, with 18 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 67% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is theft (7).

Is crime going up or down in Catlins?

Recorded offences in Catlins have fallen 30.8% 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 Catlins compare with other suburbs in Otago Region?

Catlins ranks 51 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 Catlins only with other suburbs in Otago Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.

Where does the crime data for Catlins come from?

Figures for Catlins, Clutha 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 Catlins is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz