South Hill

Waitaki District•Otago Region
Police data to:

Safety Score (12-month average)

57

–

Crime rate

16.7 per 1,000

Population 2,214

Total crimes (past 12 months)

37

Trend (last 3 months)

▲ 30.0%

vs previous 3-month period

Regional rank

#60 / 138

Top 43%

Safety Score (NZCHI)

Police data to August 2026

South Hill Overview

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

Most common offences by count were burglary (43.2%), theft (37.8%), and assault (13.5%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.

Crime Summary

The annual total crime rate in South Hill is 16.7118 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 60 within Otago Region. The overall crime trend in the area has increased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Apr 2026, Jul 2026, Aug 2026.

Crime activity peaked in April, July, and August 2026.

South Hill crime statistics: common questions

Is South Hill safe?

South Hill recorded 37 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 16.7 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 16.7 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 37 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 burglary, with 16 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 43% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is theft (14).

Is crime going up or down in South Hill?

Recorded offences in South Hill have risen 30.0% 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 60 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