Is New Zealand Safe for Women?
Safety rating
Women living in New Zealand consider the safety level to be relatively high, with an overall safety rating of 4.2 out of 5.
Crime rating
Women living in New Zealand consider the crime rate to be relatively low, with an overall crime rating of 1.9 out of 5.
Violence rating
On average 2.9% percentage of women in New Zealand have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner at some time in their life, according to OECD Data.
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Crime & Safety Statistics
Based on 71 experiences
Safety rating: | 4.2/5 | Safe |
Safety walking alone after dark: | 3.6/5 | Safe |
Safety using public transport: | 4.3/5 | Safe |
Crime rate: | 1.9/5 | Low |
Worries of being sexually harassed: | 1.7/5 | A bit worried |
Worries of being sexually assaulted or raped: | 1.5/5 | A bit worried |
Worries of being physically attacked: | 1.4/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of home broken and things stolen: | 1.4/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being mugged or robbed: | 1.2/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being kidnapped or murdered: | 1.1/5 | Not at all worried |
How safe is New Zealand?
Kendall
Pōkeno
Pokeno is a very very small country town. I actually live 15min past Pokeno but there is nothing but fro land and a school where I live so we drive to Pokeno or Pukekohe. Pokeno has essentials, supermarket gas ice cream, bakery and a couple cafes and butchery. Pukekohe has everything you need
Posted: August 23, 2025New Zealand
Very safe, keep wits about yourself at night and homeless people who may bother you (usually harmless but meth use is problem in NZ). You can carry things without concern, public transport is safe and easy to use, drivers can be a bit aggressive, pull over safely and let people pass. Very low crime rates, usually intimate partner violence or gangs not bystanders/strangers.
Posted: August 19, 2025
Danielle
Palmerston North
Palmerston North has some beautiful nature scenery walks. For the most part, I believe it is a safe city. I would be weary about walking after dark on your own in areas with low lit paths or off route. However, walking around town areas or footpaths would be rated mainly safe with very little concern.
Posted: August 17, 2025
Lena
Whangarei
No homeless people in the streets and people are nice and helpful. Safe to stay here, even safe to sleep in a car as many backpackers do it. Overall safe as in most cities in New Zealand. Felt never unsafe
Posted: July 3, 2025New Zealand
I would say day to day New Zealand feels safe. But I definitely feel less safe at night when I’m alone. Definitely make choices that keep me safe and am wary of hitchhiking in isolated areas and in general too. Most of the time it feels fine but you still come across the odd creep unfortunately. So try to make choices that keep me safe when that happens.
Posted: May 29, 2025Is New Zealand worth visiting?
Travel rating
based on 27 experiences from female travelers
Cassi
United Kingdom
New Zealand, Family travel
I felt really safe and so comfortable at all times. We went parasailing which i recommended, 10/10! Went to beaches, tried local food places, rode horses in lakes and just tried to see as much as we could. We rented a car and it was really easy to do. Not too much hassle. We stayed with a host family while we were there and it was so much fun. Would definitely go back and plan too
Posted: June 17, 2025Safety in New Zealand
Christchurch
Auckland
Nelson
Coromandel
Hamilton
Rotorua
Kerikeri
Whangarei
New Plymouth
Palmerston North
Wellington
Dunedin
Dunedin & The Otago Peninsula
Frequently asked questions
Is New Zealand safe?
Is New Zealand safe to walk alone at night?
Is public transport safe in New Zealand?
What is the crime rate in New Zealand?
What is the risk of being sexually harassed in New Zealand?
What is the risk of being sexually assaulted or raped in New Zealand?
What is the risk of being physically attacked in New Zealand?
What is the risk of burglary in New Zealand?
What is the risk of being mugged or robbed in New Zealand?
What is the risk of being kidnapped or murdered in New Zealand?
