Waikanae East
Safety Score (12-month average)
80
–
Crime rate
12.4 per 1,000
Population 2,502
Total crimes (past 12 months)
31
Trend (last 3 months)
▲ 20.0%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#171 / 232
Bottom 26%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Police data to August 2026Waikanae East Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (61.3%), burglary (19.4%), and assault (16.1%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Waikanae East is 12.3901 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 171 within Wellington Region. The overall crime trend in the area has increased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Oct 2025, Jan 2026, Jul 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in October 2025, January 2026, and July 2026.
Waikanae East crime statistics: common questions
Is Waikanae East safe?
Waikanae East recorded 31 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 12.4 per 1,000 residents across about 2,502 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 Waikanae East?
The crime rate in Waikanae East is 12.4 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 31 recorded offences across about 2,502 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 Waikanae East?
The most common offence category in Waikanae East is theft, with 19 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 61% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (6).
Is crime going up or down in Waikanae East?
Recorded offences in Waikanae East have risen 20.0% 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 Waikanae East compare with other suburbs in Wellington Region?
Waikanae East ranks 171 of 232 suburbs in Wellington Region by crime rate, where 1 is the highest rate. This is a ranking of recorded crime, not a safety rating, and it compares Waikanae East only with other suburbs in Wellington Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Waikanae East come from?
Figures for Waikanae East, Kapiti Coast 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 Waikanae East is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz