Originally Posted by NZ Climber

Yep, there was. I nearly stopped for him to see if he needed any help cos he was stood with his bonnet up looking confused as I drove past. I decided not to in the end, something about it just didn't feel right, and I guess it was probably one of the better decisions I ever made...

As for the whole crime thing, here it is:

According to the statistics NZ site (www.stats.govt.nz):

"The recorded offence rate rose steadily from 55 per 1,000 population in 1970 to an all-time peak of 132 per 1,000 population in 1992. This rise may be due to a real change in the volume of crime in New Zealand, to changes in recording practices, or to a combination of the two. The offence rate remained fairly steady between 1992 and 1996, before decreasing to 111 per 1,000 population in 2000. However, it remained higher than it was at any stage prior to 1984."

In the UK (according to www.statistics.gov.uk):

"The rate of notifiable offences per 1,000 population in England and Wales tripled between 1971 and 1992, when it reached 109. It then decreased steadily to 86 in 1998-99, as measured under the ‘old’ counting rules."

So, in conclusion:

1. There's crime everywhere, worldwide.
2. The figures are similar for NZ and the UK when population size is negated by using the per 1000 stats.
3. I don't know what the 'old' counting rules were in the UK one.
4. I don't know if these two sets of statistics are even apples and apples in terms of what they count and what they don't (I don't have time to look right now).
5. I suspect that they aren't and I suspect that the instances of violent and/or armed crime are much much higher in the UK.

However, perception is a whole different ballgame. As many people have already said, the perception here is that it's safer here for kids, etc etc. And they're right. I wouldn't think twice about walking down a darkened street or catching a nightbus here, we've (accidentally) left the door to the house wide open all day and come home to miraculously find that everything's still there. Same goes for the car and the garage... Security on most houses here is laughable, single-glazed windows, ranch sliders that can be lifted off the runners, etc etc.

I feel that it's safer here than it is in the UK but the stats say that it isn't. Maybe I live in a nice area but I know that when I go to the mountain to go boarding, we can leave all our stuff in the car while we ride and it's all still there when we come to go home again. I know that I don't feel threatened by gangs of youths or by people that I think are going to mug me.

Admittedly, walking down the road towards people that look a bit dodgy sometimes, I do feel my fists clenching and my eyes scanning for places to run if it came to that and moving my rucksack to the other shoulder or whatever but then I guess that's what comes from having lived in London for you. It usually takes me a second or two to realise that i'm being a dumbass and that this is NZ, not Beirut and I feel like a bit of a fool.

Originally Posted by jueinnz

Police on the streets? yes I saw one ...I have been here 4 years.(just rediscovered this site, I lost it!!!) and I saw my 1st policeman on the street patrolling a few weeks ago...he was on Queen Street in Auckland, which is a mainly tourist and student shopping area.

Originally Posted by NZ Climber

Yep, there was. I nearly stopped for him to see if he needed any help cos he was stood with his bonnet up looking confused as I drove past. I decided not to in the end, something about it just didn't feel right, and I guess it was probably one of the better decisions I ever made...

.

Originally Posted by Carkedit

Shit..!! Its funny how instinct can take over huh! (Good job too half the time!)