Safest cities in New Zealand
6 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in New ZealandTerrorist attacks in New Zealand cannot be ruled out.
Crime
- Crime levels are generally low, but street crime happens in major towns and cities. Thieves may target unattended vehicles, especially hire cars and camper vans in major tourist areas.
Laws and cultural differences
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesImporting illegal drugs could result in a prison sentence of up to 12 years.
- LGBT+ travellersNew Zealand has an established tradition of tolerance towards same-sex relations, but there are still isolated incidents of homophobia-related crimes. LGBT+ travellers should be aware of local sensitivities, particularly when visiting rural areas. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Extreme sportsBritish nationals have been involved in tragic accidents while doing extreme sports activities. If you’re taking part in extreme sports, check that:
- Visiting remote areasIf you are planning to visit a remote area, check with the local tourist authorities for advice. To find out more information about being prepared, check:
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in New Zealand, see information on driving abroad and read the Road Code. It lists driving regulations and other legal requirements you need to be aware of.
- Motor vehicle insuranceHire car companies will arrange your insurance, but if you are driving a private vehicle you must get insurance, including accident cover. Accident victims do not have a legal right to sue a third party. The Accident Compensation Commission (ACC) helps pay for local care if you’re injured. However, delayed travel or loss of income in a third…
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- EarthquakesNew Zealand is in a major earthquake zone. Tsunamis can happen along the coastlines. You should:
- FloodingFlooding and landslides can happen, resulting in road closures and infrastructure damage.
- Volcanic eruptionsThere are several active volcanoes on the North Island of New Zealand. Get local advice about where there might be volcanic activity.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for New Zealand, updated 2026-03-19 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 1.46 /100k2022
- Income inequality
- no data
- Human development
- HDI 0.9382023
- Income
- $53,600/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 9.6 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 86/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 86/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 81/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 1.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.90GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 6.9 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 100%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 3.6 doctors /1k2.5 hospital beds per 1,000
Natural hazards
- Earthquake
- 6.0/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 5.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Flood
- 3.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Cyclone
- 1.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 1.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in New Zealand (as of 2025).
How New Zealand compares
| Measure | New Zealand | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 1.5 /100k | 2.4 /100k | −0.9 /100k — better for New Zealand |
| Income inequality (Gini) | no data | 35.2 | — |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.938 | 0.763 | +0.175 — better for New Zealand |
| Road deaths | 9.6 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −5.8 /100k — better for New Zealand |
| Rule of law | 86/100 | 52/100 | +34/100 — better for New Zealand |
| Corruption perceptions | 81/100 | 39/100 | +42/100 — better for New Zealand |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 6.9 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −12.8 µg/m³ — better for New Zealand |
| Natural-hazard risk | 1.6/10 | 3.8/10 | −2.2/10 — better for New Zealand |
| Measure | New Zealand | Oceania median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 1.5 /100k | 3.1 /100k | −1.6 /100k — better for New Zealand |
| Income inequality (Gini) | no data | 35.5 | — |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.938 | 0.657 | +0.280 — better for New Zealand |
| Road deaths | 9.6 /100k | 13.1 /100k | −3.5 /100k — better for New Zealand |
| Rule of law | 86/100 | 62/100 | +24/100 — better for New Zealand |
| Corruption perceptions | 81/100 | 50/100 | +32/100 — better for New Zealand |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 6.9 µg/m³ | 8.1 µg/m³ | −1.2 µg/m³ — better for New Zealand |
| Natural-hazard risk | 1.6/10 | 3.8/10 | −2.2/10 — better for New Zealand |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 6 cities, safest first
- Auckland80.6 · #1829 worldwide
- Glenfield80.6 · #1830 worldwide
- Christchurch80.6 · #1831 worldwide
- Hamilton80.6 · #1832 worldwide
- Papakura80.6 · #1833 worldwide
- Wellington80.6 · #1834 worldwide