[slw]

I'm afraid to ask this as I've done a search and it seems to be a touchy subject :laugh , I'm moving to Wellington next month from the U.S. and had some questions.

Are there any "bad areas" to avoid walking around in at night or living in?

I've heard to avoid Courtenay Place at night, but would like to hear from someone who actually lives there (or has visited often!) if this is true.

Having lived all over the U.S., I realize that each person's perspective is going to be different. For example, I always felt safer while in California than in Oklahoma. Go figure. :roll I also realize that New Zealand is not Utopia (darn!), but for some it is given where they relocated from.

So any viewpoints / advice would be much appreciated.

[anna_c]

Courtenay Place may be rowdy, but its busy enough that you're unlikely to have anything serious happen to you.

Within the city I don't feel there are any real no go areas, I take it on a street by street basis and avoid dark, out of the way alleys at night.

Marion Street becomes sex worker central at night, which doesn't necessarily mean unsafe, but it may not be where you want to be.

For living in, I'm not so sure, I've only lived within a small area (Kelburn-Northland-Aro Valley) and felt safe enough there.

[Angelonthemove]

As with any where you should not walk around alone at night. But saying that I have never felt uncomfortable in Wellington. I am the worst having been attacked in a UK car park some years ago, so I am paranoid.

You see small children here walking to school alone, women out jogging alone, its no where near as bad as most countries. Courtney place has had a few rapes recently late at night. Its a bar and club area. Most people dine out in Wellington between 6pm and 9pm no one goes out late. Except youngsters, of which I am not one, so not seen CP very late at night. Just use common sense. But you will not here many stabbing or gun fights over here.

[anna_c]

I may count as a youngster, but Courtenay Place is certainly busy late on a Friday/Saturday night.

I think the incidents to which you refer happened in small streets/carparks off Courtenay Place.
Of course, behaviour modification isn't the answer anyway, but if I was out on Courtenay place late at night, I wouldn't expect anything worse than having a drunk teenager fall against me :)

As with any where you should not walk around alone at night. But saying that I have never felt uncomfortable in Wellington. I am the worst having been attacked in a UK car park some years ago, so I am paranoid.

You see small children here walking to school alone, women out jogging alone, its no where near as bad as most countries. Courtney place has had a few rapes recently late at night. Its a bar and club area. Most people dine out in Wellington between 6pm and 9pm no one goes out late. Except youngsters, of which I am not one, so not seen CP very late at night. Just use common sense. But you will not here many stabbing or gun fights over here.

[Mexican in NZ]

I agree just take precautions as normal...Been in Courtey plae at night and it seems ok just avoid being isolated...coming from MEX safety is a huge issue with me and i can honestly tell u i feel safe here! I would avoid some areas to live tho...like, waiunomata, porirua, etc other people has already comment on this issues just click the option for search and type wellington and you will find lots of info ....
by the way i lived in California and the part i was living was great never any problems.
If u need more info just ask plenty of people here will answer to you =)
Have a good one,
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[Ana&Steve]

We have stayed in downtown Wellington twice in the last 2 years, once for 4 days and once for 11. We walked around many nights until midnight or so, and never felt uncomfortable. We walked around Courtney, Cuba, Manners, the Quays, that whole area. There are a lot of people around of all ages and all walks of life even very late. We asked about safety to several people while there, and the overwhelming majority said they don't feel unsafe, but most did follow it up with some kind of advise about common sense.
I hope a fellow American's opinion helps!
Ana
PS, don't be afraid to ask questions here, it's just that sometimes a good debate sprouts up! :nice1

[barryp]

There are some pretty rough areas in and around Welly, but they are not centrally located or adjacent to where most people work. Gang activity is notable in Rongotai and parts of Newtown, for example. But one of my coworkers ended up looking down the barrel of a policeman's gun two weeks ago in Hataitai, a suburb not having a strong association with gangs, during a drug bust.

Petty crime is much higher here than I had assumed before moving, but fear of violent crime is not something that affects how anyone I know behaves. Staying away from Courtenay Place on weekend nights is prudent to avoid binge-drinking amateurs and the police that attend to their misdeeds, but that's more a matter of comfort than of fear for personal safety.

[ellenmelon]

i walk down courteney place most friday nights after work (i usually try to find a car park somewhere off of there as its convienient to work) and ive been around that area later. and its grand, seriously. its the usual common sense rules that apply in any city really..dont walk where you feel uncomfortable, where its dark etc.

[slw]

Thanks for all the replies. Ana, it sounds to me that Courtenay Place might be similar to the Gaslamp District in San Diego? Where everyone goes to drink and party on a Fri or Sat... or Wed ...or Thur night :laugh Not too worried about that, but yeah if I'm not there to partake in the festivities, it may not be my scene and I'll probably avoid it. I am definitely a city person, so therefore not as intimated by city life as some may be. But I like to have a heads up and to know which areas to avoid. :)

Barry, I was surprised you mentioned gangs because the first thing that popped in my head was Compton / South LA style gangs, and I admit I got a little worried. I did some research and it sounds vastly different, so I hoping that's the case.

Also, could anyone tell me how Lyall Bay is as far as area?

Thanks again everyone. This forum so helpful for a newbie like me. :nice1

[Ana&Steve]

Ana, it sounds to me that Courtenay Place might be similar to the Gaslamp District in San Diego?

It's like Gaslamp in some ways, but IMO Cortney is better lit and has no drunk Marines and NZ homeless people are very different than US (there aren't very many for one thing). Not to say I don't like Gaslamp, quite enjoy it actually, but I enjoyed the Welly hot spots so much more!
Ana

[Carol]

Courtenay Place rocks!!!!! I love it!
And I'm 45!!!!
lol
:laugh

[Carol]

some suburbs I would give a wide berth at night though.....

For isntance - would be wary of my teenagers going out in Porirua - particularly the east side - at night. Also some Hutt suburbs.
You get to know them pretty quickly tho

[Questor]

I think a lot of areas have got a bad rap and really they're as safe as anywhere else - Wainuiomata for example - it's all about being sensible and not doing anything silly - but if you've got common sense then you'll be fine pretty much anywhere!
I wouldn't want to live in Porirua, but that's not because it's "rough" just because it seems like a massive, almost "planned" area, and I like places that seem to have grown organically.
God that sounds like a weird reason when I come to read it!

Just come and enjoy! We all are :D

[tiefchord]

Barry, I was surprised you mentioned gangs because the first thing that popped in my head was Compton / South LA style gangs, and I admit I got a little worried. I did some research and it sounds vastly different, so I hoping that's the case.


If we're talking Compton, Inglewood, Watts, Long Beach, etc. type of deal - there is not a single place in Wellington that is even close - and I'd even extend that to most of New Zealand as a whole. Newtown itself may *seem* sketchy for instance, but it's not even close to inner LA/east LA. NZ, comparitively is very safe.


Also, could anyone tell me how Lyall Bay is as far as area?


Safe.