Waikanae West
Safety Score (12-month average)
49
–
Crime rate
41.5 per 1,000
Population 4,704
Total crimes (past 12 months)
195
Trend (last 3 months)
▲ 8.5%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#58 / 232
Top 25%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Police data to August 2026Waikanae West Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (78.5%) and burglary (16.9%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Waikanae West is 41.4541 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 58 within Wellington Region. The overall crime trend in the area has remained the same in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Mar 2026, Apr 2026, Aug 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in March, April, and August 2026.
Waikanae West crime statistics: common questions
Is Waikanae West safe?
Waikanae West recorded 195 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 41.5 per 1,000 residents across about 4,704 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 West?
The crime rate in Waikanae West is 41.5 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 195 recorded offences across about 4,704 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 West?
The most common offence category in Waikanae West is theft, with 153 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 78% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (33).
Is crime going up or down in Waikanae West?
Recorded offences in Waikanae West have risen 8.5% 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 West compare with other suburbs in Wellington Region?
Waikanae West ranks 58 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 West only with other suburbs in Wellington Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Waikanae West come from?
Figures for Waikanae West, 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 West is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz