[willsken]

Ok, another question about crime. I may be doing this one to death and for that I apologise.

I don't believe I have any illusions as to the crime rates in NZ. I have looked at the comparisons between us in the UK and NZ and compared them. (Also did the US and they even make the UK seem good.) I know that most crime per 100,000 population NZ isn't that far behind the UK.

Now, what I would like to hear is comments from people who moved to NZ from areas that were experiencing the same petty, but tiresome and scary crime as in the area where I live. I will list the things that are a common occurrence in and around my home

1. Burglary/theft from sheds Every Week
2. Groups of youths getting drunk and being intimidating outside the local shops. Every Day
3. Car theft/vandalism Every Week
4. School kids being beaten up by other kids/serious bullying Every week
5. Disgusting language/spitting in the street/lewd comments Daily
6. Fighting and bad behaviour when the pubs kick out Every Week
7. Constant worry every time my boys go out of the house (Not a crime I know, but a very big blight on my life all the same) Every time they go out

I've run out of ideas, but as I said before I live in a "nice" place. Hmm very nice! Come on Stevie help me out here, you know what I'm asking.

I want to go to NZ with my eyes open and after spending some time in the place we want to live (small town) and talking to the locals I really believe it will be better in NZ. Not perfect, just a lot better. Am I in for a big dissapointment? :wah

[Diny]

I know that most crime per 100,000 population NZ isn't that far behind the UK.


Am I in for a big dissapointment? :wah


No - I don't think that you are in for a big disappointment. The fact that the population of NZ is a mere fraction of that of the UK means that crime isn't so 'in your face'.

I know it must appear that those of us living here are trying to paint a 'doom and gloom' picture. That simply isn't the case. All I'm doing (and some others here too) are trying to point out that 'bad' things happen here too. Whilst sitting watching the evening news if it wasn't for the accent of the news readers you could fool yourself you were in any other country in the world.

Back in the UK we lived in a very rural location. I would leave my front door unlocked while I nipped around to the village shop, my husband had a habit of leaving the car keys in the ignition over night, and I never once felt affraid or threatened. Here in NZ we also live in a rural location - however I lock my doors, my car and am regularly 'hassled' by the local thugs on my way to the 4 Square. Maybe I take these precautions because I'm fairly new here and still not too sure of the lay of the land.

NZ is a wonderful country and I do believe that you will have a somewhat quieter life than you may be having at the moment. I don't think you will be disappointed, and I definatley say 'go for it'. However, I also advise that you don't put too much weight on the 'crime free haven' reasons for coming to NZ. I came here on numerous occasions before emmigrating and was still unpleasantly suprised by the amount of 'bad stuff' happening. Where there's people there's crime - simple as that.

Diny

[Rabbit]

http://www.crime.co.nz/

[Carol]

1. Burglary/theft from sheds Every Week - yes it happens but certainly not every week....and last week when my neighbour's burglar alarm went off there were no less than 4 people all out checking the house out for him. Think it was a spider. :yes

2. Groups of youths getting drunk and being intimidating outside the local shops. Every Day - Have never ever seen this in the town where I live. That's not to say it doesn't happen - every town is differetn and as Diny has experienced it could just come down to where you choose to live. Don't plant your roots too soon!
3. Car theft/vandalism Every Week This has happened to me once in 10 years. And to be honest - I was stupid and left things out in my car openly - basically I asked for it! Don't often see it near the train station where we live but apparantly there ARE hot spots...
4. School kids being beaten up by other kids/serious bullying Every week Not in the schools I have any contact with - but bullying happens in every school and in every workplace. I dont even think about this being a "problem" at my sons' High School.
5. Disgusting language/spitting in the street/lewd comments Daily Um.....yes I guess - in some places but I've actually pointed out to some people "hey guys my kids don't want to hear that" and they've actually stopped rather than beat me up!

6. Fighting and bad behaviour when the pubs kick out Every Week Only two pubs in my village and I can't say I've ever seen this.

7. Constant worry every time my boys go out of the house (Not a crime I know, but a very big blight on my life all the same) Every time they go out
My boys are 16 and 14 and they travel a lot on public transport. There are places I wouldn't want them to be in at night - they are too naive. That said - they don't actually go out that much other than to the movies with their mates and they are all happy for me to give them a lift home. So they can spend more money on popcorn and "V"!!

Am I in for a big dissapointment?
Nope! Remember you will be very wary for a while - and that's a good thing. The most important thing to do is get to know the area you are going to live in - get to know people - get their perspectives on the area- especially local schools. Don't settle in one spot too quickly just in case it's not right for you.




Hope this puts your mind at rest a little...

Carol

[willsken]

Thank you so much for the replies so far. It has put my mind at rest. As I thought not crime free by any means but a damn site better that what I am living at the moment.

Please keep the comments coming as I know I'm not the only ones coming to give our families more hope than that we have now.

Diny, thank you. I see that in the UK you were one of the lucky few and as such you see a very different UK to what a lot of us have to live with. It reminds me of my very happy childhood. All I want is to give that to my boys. I think if it weren’t for them I wouldn't go anywhere. Doing the job I now do and the jobs I have had in the past has made me except things more readily. But I want more for the little men.

Carol also thank you. You have put all my fears at rest. I have read your previous posts and realise you seem to have the same motives as me.

Thanks for the link Rabbit I will have a look now.

[Rabbit]

We live in a beautiful little village in a rural county in the UK, no crime, hills, forests, buzzards flying overhead, beautiful scenery and you can leave your door unlocked, and I often forget to lock the car. A 12th Century Church, and a local pub. Not to mention the village hall and the great community spirit.

No earthquakes, strong winds, or volcanoes.

But unfortunately, the work opportunities are very limited and it is 100 miles to anywhere for my skillset.

I found Wellington so compact, so if you change your job, then one only has to move up a few office blocks, rather than relocate to London or the south-east, something I would not want to do and could not afford financially.

In other ways Wellington and the surrounding areas we found too built-up, (small & sub-divided plots) and whilst Kapiti was nice, probably too far to go on a daily basis. Eastbourne was OK, but a bit of a trek if you do not want to take the ferry every day.

To be honest, I expect more crime, but there will be other benefits (I hope e.g. a rural life, short commute, job flexibility without changing location, at the same time visit a cosmopolitan "city" close by on occasion, visit the gold coast, see the islands etc).

What is that old saying - act in haste, repent at leasure?

Still, looking forward to meeting the blue penguins in winter.

[StevieD]

Still, looking forward to meeting the blue penguins in winter

Probably to compare your blue skin as the houses are so cold, aren't they Diny! :laugh.

Good advice from all. At the end of the day, you judge your surroundings and act accordingly. People would baulk at the thought of leaving their car unlocked overnight in Liverpool. Well, I live in Aintree in a quiet little close next to the racecourse, left car open, front and back doors on house unlocked as well, no probs!!! Just soooo tired went to bed and forgot the lot. Maybe just lucky, but do it often, even left the kitchen window wide open other week when I went out for the day.

Crime in UK seems to be getting worse by the minute, and an awful lot of it goes unreported, only the tip of the iceberg is detected and acted upon.

[Aydon]

Machen's not *that* bad is it? ;)

I think that the UK is certainy becoming more of a "disrespectful" place - I'm not *that* old but I remember that I (And my friends) were NEVER as bad as things are now.

[jubjub]

We went out the other day and when we came back had to unload a crying baby, a dog and a buggy, and I was expecting hubby to go move the car down the drive afterwards, he didnt. next morning we went out to find that both drivers side doors were left wide open, as was the boot, no damage, and car was still there! (good job it did not rain).

On the other hand we now have two bits of "tagging" on our fence :mad:. And a couple of years ago, the guy in the local pizza place got shot dead.

There is violent crime, and petty crime here, but its not headline news every day like it was "back home". We look at the burglaries in our area every week as they are published in the paper and where we live, in roughly a 2 sq km area there are around two a week, and apparenlty its monday & tuesdays they mainly get done when folks are at work, they publish that info too, so you are aware and can take appropriate action.

[StevieD]

What is tagging?

Literally just came on the local news, another shooting locally making it 3 this weekend! The latest won't give any information to the police, now what does that tell you...

[jubjub]

Tagging is graffiti/gang markings it is a big prob here


http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/sundaystartimes/auckland/0,2106,3544171a6498,00.html

[willsken]

Tagging is graffiti/gang markings it is a big prob here


Is that just Auckland? Didn't notice it much elsewhere but then we were only there for 3 weeks. Not really enough ground covered. :roll

[Diny]

No - not just Auckland.

Diny

[willsken]

Hmmm I hate graffiti :mad:

[Rabbit]

I must admit as we commuted on the local trains in and out of Wellington, the great sprawl of graffiti, supprised me also. My first thoughts were, I have come here to get away from such things - how dare they.

Then, after a bit of reflection, I came to the conclusion it must be some form of modern art and it is also prevelant in the UK, US and other places - especially train siddings.

I am not keen on it, but perhaps if I think of it in a new way, then I will not be threatend by it, perhaps after a while look at it as an art form.

[GeorgeM]

You see tagging in some parts of Chch but not all. It's not really a problem in Sumner (yet?). But whenever I'm waiting at a level crossing and a train passes the wagons are tagged.

More noticable to me is the damage caused to bus shelters - kids drive round at night and fire ballbarings from catapults at the glass shelters which causes them to shatter. Sometimes half a dozen along a route into town might have been done on an evening. All down to the perceived invincibility of those doing it, of course - probably a 10% chance that they'll get caught and even if they do they won't even get a strict talking to. I'm sure that it would only take a couple to be caught and given a severe caning for the word to get around and the problem to disappear overnight. I'm sure that they don't have the same problem in downtown Singapore!

[Rabbit]

Led me to thinking, I wonder if the offspring of immigrants have to undergo a PNC check also? perhaps they should?

[willsken]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/

I spent ages on here today. Seems a good way of finding out what is going on in the area you want to live in.