[zensamurai]

Hi,

I read the following in another forum written by a genuine KIWI:

Anyway! I grew up in Tauranga and studied in Auckland. Of course, as a typical NZ'er I went out heaps and partied up large...we all know what that means for a kiwi! It was NEVER safe for me to be out late at night by myself, in any city in NZ. I had many terrifying experiences which fortunately turned out ok in the end, but here are some details of assaults on people I personally know and NOT out of the paper:

My Dad was beaten up in broad daylight by a man in Tga who was assaulting his wife, cos my Dad intervened.
My student flat in Mt Eden, Akl was burgled.
A friend was sexually assaulted twice in her flat in Nth Akl by the same man....and she even flatted with a policeman!
My sister-in-law's best-friend was raped in her house in Mt Eden by the "Mt Eden Jogger" while her husband popped down to the dairy.
Last year my friend's ex-flatmate, was found raped and murdered in Grey Lynn.
My sister's house was burgled in Whakatane while she was in hospital giving birth, last year.
Her husband was recently jumped on from behind while surfing and held under water for ages, for apparent abuse of surfing "rules" (He KNOWS the "rules"!)

For me, this is the only negative thing that I can say about NZ...it is a very violent society and the violence usually occurs as a result of alcohol abuse when repressed anger comes to the surface. Of course, during the day I feel completely safe in NZ, but I'd be an idiot if I'd go out at night alone. God forbid you look at anyone for a fraction too long!

What are your experiences ?
Is NZ safe for women and children ?
Is it worth to get a better life than in Europe ?

cheers

zensamurai

[baboonworld]

I always felt safe as a child - but so do all children.

I grew up in Upper Hutt and when I went into Wellington at night would walk back to the train station and then from the train to my house on my own. Always felt safe.

I am fortunate enough to not know anyone who was raped, or murdered (other than a victim of a muder suicide) and I think the most dangerous thing about NZ is probably the roads!

However - the place has changed a lot since then (10 years ago) and my Mum tells me that there are "home invasions" - which i think are becoming more popular in UK too - and kidnappings by Chinese of Chinese businessmens families.

I have a little theory about crime - it probably applies to both countries....

.... with less and less people carrying cash on them what is there to steal??? I never carry cash - just my cards. So how do the desperate get money - by breaking in to someones home and demanding it. A TV or Video is no good to anyone - so what is the point if no one is at home - what is their to steal anymore that you would get decent money for??? I think this is why ID fraud is going to be the biggest crime wave in years.

[dave k]

Well, Mr. Genuine Kiwi has a great deal more experience of the country than I do, but I've lived & worked (late at night) in some pretty hairy places in the North of England &, based on my own experiences, living in Wellington (the only place I know well here) is much safer.

We have this discusion on a regular basis on the forum & it basically boils down to " Yes, NZ is no mythical land of milk & honey where everyone lives side by side in peace and harmony...and bad happens EVERYWHERE in the world...but it is comparatively safe & it's citizens are usually honest, fair & law-abiding."

I've found that I've dropped my Danger Radar down a few notches since living here in Wellington. Back home I would be pretty much on Red Alert if I was walking home late at night - and with good reason.
I've been out and about in town a lot since I arrived & I can't recall seeing one violent incident in a bar or out on the streets - & I think this is helped tremendously by the bars & pubs not having an 11 pm closing time.
Back in the UK, at 11 everyone spills out into the streets ...often drunk, annoyed that they've been kicked out (usually by some gorilla in a suit), & all wanting the same buses & taxis. You can imagine the fun that ensues.

[Moorf]

I suggest you do a search of this forum, using the search function in the menu at the top of the page, and search for "crime" "safety" etc - this should bring up some interesting info for you as it's been discussed quite a few times.

It's a lively topic :? ;)

[zensamurai]

Hi Moorf,

it´s great that a moderator is responding and caring so much. I must confess that I used the search function after your comment, but there weren´t many themes to the keyword "rape".
Thus I think safety should interest more people, but as I learned:
The citizens of each country have a different focus on things. here are more the really practical matters. In the other forum, where I found the text above, they were much more focused to it.

Anyway, perhaps it is as I thought before. Here all are most people are interested in the more simple themes.

But why is there such a big difference ???
I can´t understand. Even when people are from different countries, their interest in "living there" should have the same focus.

Cheers your disorientated

zensamurai

[MB]

Don't want to cloud this thread with comparisons, but -- not least 'cos many US folks seem to be a bit self-conscious about their reputation at the moment -- I just want to chime in here with a thumbs-up for the US or, at least, the Seattle area as that's the one I know. Americans have been good to me and I want to speak up for 'em.

This is a safe place and Americans (I guess I am one now I'm a citizen) are generally superb community people.

I've been here nine years and have seen and experienced a lot of this. Just a few things off the top of my head:
- all kinds of instances of thoughtfulness by local youngsters
- virtually zero litter, graffiti and vandalism
- girls, women and others jogging or walking by themselves quite happily and safely in parks and on trails
- flyers posted on street-lamp poles by citizens with details of found (not just lost) pets
- all manner of voluntary and fund-raising events
- just general politeness and optimism
- patience and helpfulness as bikes, wheelchairs and the like board buses... no, more than that, not patience, just plain enduring acceptance and kindness
- cars slowing down to let pedestrians cross, even on near-deserted streets that the pedestrian would have no trouble negotiating if they had to wait two more seconds
- the prevalent "OK, fine, how can we achieve that?" attitude if you mention any ambition or idea.
- and on and on and on, all of it just because the people like to live in good conditions and, no, not in a spirit-sapping Stepford sense either. Just responsible citizenship.

We're going to NZ largely because of the opportunity we're moving to and not the place we're moving from. Certainly Seattle/America has aspects I'd like to change or see change, and we hope to find a few aspects of life in NZ that are more agreeable to us in those respects, but on the whole people here put their energy and behavior into letting each other do their own thing in a fair and pleasant setting.

I'm very, very fond of Seattle and the Northwest, and of Americans.

[zensamurai]

Hi,

- virtually zero litter, graffiti and vandalism

I would be happy, if this is reality. When I have been there commencing the nineties, it was worse than that. All litter, mud and ...

When we travelled to Canada it was like enlightment. All clean, nice and friendly people. If US have changed as described I would be glad , but just can´t belive it.

cheers

zensamurai

[veronica]

good post MB. its important to look at stuff positively both home and here.

[Singel]

In the Northland, it has the best weather and so many beautiful beaches - it's like a heaven on earth. Yet, I don't feel safe in setting up our home there, reasons being that there are no jobs and most of the people live on benefits. It is great for holidays though............

Any way, I (as a woman) feel safe living here, as long as I don't venture into undesirable places at night.

In our community, a lot of families taking their evening walk in parks and coastal trail every day.

[Danpoll]

for the very little I have experienced so far and whether this is of any value, but there doesn't seem to be this alpha male swag over here, people dont seem to be intrested to be number 1, there not intrested in having th best cars etc. Without that sort of conflict of superiority in the air it feels more safer. Maybe there just not as pretencious and bitter as the UK lot are. Auckland definetly seems to have more issues, probably because it has the most people. Chc has seen a fair few shootings recently, though they are between gang lords. So good let them wipe each other out. Then there is the threat of terror, that just dosn't even get mentioned, the news is not filled with Iraq and the US which to be honest is nice, The pyschology of the media and fear tatics mean that you are more relaxed and just get on living your life. However if you want total safety I would suggest Monte Carlo, with more police officers than residents, where you can leave cash in your open top ferrari and it would go now where. Or Saudi where they chop off thieves hands or a remote scottish island. No where is totally safe, the criminal element lives in evrey street and town evreywhere in the world other than casinio square. In my opinion you couldn't go far wrong with this place and only once you leave the UK do realise how bad it really is.


Dan

[Hannah-NL]

I sometimes read the NZ Herald, not too much, but here's a link to their "crime section":
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=30

[chips]

Singel-
Have you tried to set up home in Northland???
The same now could be said about Christchurch - what the hell's going on there ?,
And lovely Auckland.
A very unfair statement about Northland.

We nearly didn't come to the far north because of sweeping statements like yours, and so far we have found the to be totally untrue.
Great beaches , boss weather ,little traffic, and a great lifestyle. YES there is unempolyment, but it doesn't make you feel unsafe. It's a great Moari and Pakeha mix here.
Very glad to be here ,and not in big uncaring cities.
An angry Chips

[Diny]

Maybe there just not as pretencious and bitter as the UK lot are.

Abit of a sweeping statement there Dan old chap. I kind of gather from your postings that you're very happy to be out of the UK and away from the Brits - this is fine. Each to their own.

However - I would never class myself (or any of my family & friends) as pretentious and bitter. We all have our own reasons for moving on, you may have found the people who featured in your every day life in the UK as pretentious and bitter but that doen't mean to say everybody is. For some of us it's not that we want to leave UK, it's just that we want to live in NZ ..... where I'm sure we'll come across a few pretentious and bitter people. Not wanting to stir anything up, but like MB and his affection for his country and his fellow countrymen ....... some of us feel the same way about the UK and the folks that live here.

Diny

[Stu]

Zensamurai, mate, who-ever wrote that post you quoted must have lived in and known some pretty unpleasant parts of NZ. I have lived here for 43 years now (all my life).
I know no-one who has been raped.
I personally nor any of my family have ever experienced any personal violence apart from rugby games or the odd teenage scuffle after too much beer
My farm has been burgled a couple of times, no big deal though.
It is safe to walk around this town any time I think, either here in town or up at the beach.
I tihnk your poster you quoted may perhaps have been exaggerating just a little, or was raised in a gang/bikie house or something.
cheers, Stu.

[Timbo]

43??????? C`mon Stu.

[zensamurai]

Hi,

I hope nobody assumes that my post is a fake or something like that. It is from March, 2003 in a german NZ-forum and written by a female Kiwi, who married an Austrian and is now living in Vienna.

The link is: http://www.nzvillage.com/NZForum/viewtopic.php?t=506

Of course all other comments are in german language. There were also comments by immigrated people that there are many people (especially minorities) using drugs.

I want to point out that this is NOT my opinion, but of other people living in NZ. When I tend to move to NZ, I just want to know the lifestyle also from another point of view than boating, fishing, skiing a.s.o.

cheers

zensamurai

[veronica]

With crime, drugs and alcohol you get the same problems here as anywhere. The land is different, not the human race inhabiting it. The same old homosapiens with all the faults :uhoh , goodnesses :nice1 , weaknesses :? and strengths :clap that they are associated with as everywhere else. The biggest difference is there are less of them.

[sweetpea]

Amen, Veronica.

I don't think its worth putting too much time into thinking about all the bad things that could happen. People are people, and one bad apple in even the "safest" neighborhood could do you harm. I'm not sure if that makes me an optimist or a fatalist.

My neighbors and I keep watch on the goings on on our street, which definitely is motivated by safety concerns (everyone except for me--knock wood--has been burgled). But then again, seeing who's out and about, and talking about what some fool just did is great fodder for gossip, and sometimes our streetscene is better than reality TV :P

Laura


Adding: I could write a long list of crimes--some heinous--that affected people I know, but I really don't think that that is a reflection on day-to-day life in the States.

[Moorf]

It's all relative - if you're living in the boonies then you're going to have a v. different experience from if you were living in a dodgy area of Auckland - simple as that!

This type of thread can be argued to death (and it has been) but each persons opinion will be based on SUCH different criteria (where you are from in the UK, where you now live in NZ, etc etc) that it's nigh on impossible to give a definitive answer on "how safe is NZ"!!!

Let common sense prevail - don't walk alone in parks / deserted areas at night, make sure you lock your car, keep your back door locked if you're out, don't leave desirable goods on display and keep your wits about you - the same advice would apply the world over !!!

Of course, there will be those who can say " I don't lock my backdoor, it's just like the UK 25 yrs ago" - that's great, I'm jealous, but not in the cities it isn't!!

[jo b]

I agree V crime is everywhere.

Although like I say perception is 99% realtiy so if you feel safer thats an awful bette than being scared.

Jo