South Dunedin
Safety Score (12-month average)
26
–
Crime rate
35.4 per 1,000
Population 2,487
Total crimes (past 12 months)
88
Trend (last 3 months)
▲ 36.8%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#25 / 138
Top 18%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Updated August 2026South Dunedin Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (45.5%), burglary (23.9%), and assault (21.6%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in South Dunedin is 35.384 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 25 within Otago Region. The overall crime trend in the area has increased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Aug 2025, Apr 2026, May 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in August 2025, April 2026, and May 2026.
South Dunedin crime statistics: common questions
Is South Dunedin safe?
South Dunedin recorded 88 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 35.4 per 1,000 residents across about 2,487 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 Dunedin?
The crime rate in South Dunedin is 35.4 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 88 recorded offences across about 2,487 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 Dunedin?
The most common offence category in South Dunedin is theft, with 40 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 45% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (21).
Is crime going up or down in South Dunedin?
Recorded offences in South Dunedin have risen 36.8% 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 South Dunedin compare with other suburbs in Otago Region?
South Dunedin ranks 25 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 Dunedin only with other suburbs in Otago Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for South Dunedin come from?
Figures for South Dunedin, 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 South Dunedin is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz