Wellington is the only capital city in the world to be designated a World Health Organisation (WHO) Safe Community. It achieved this designation in June 2006 - the outcome of a comprehensive package of initiatives begun in 2000 aimed to ensure that people feel safe in Wellington at all times.
Safety Programme
Key to the Council’s safety efforts are the 15 fulltime City Safety (Walkwise) officers, operating 24/7 in the central city, whose aim is to prevent and deter crime and anti-social behaviour through their visibility.
Other elements include partnerships with government, Police, health and community agencies, and the hospitality and security sectors, more events for youth, ensuring all public streetscape and lighting projects integrate safety measures, a liquor ban in central city streets and safe transport services.
Residents Feel Safe
Research shows that today nearly 100 percent of residents feel safe in the city during the day, and around 70 percent of people feel reasonably or very safe in the central city at night.
Other councils in the region also encourage people to practise safety in their daily lives, whether driving their cars, supervising their children or erecting secure fences around private swimming pools and spa pools.
- Community Safety
- SaferRoads
- Road Safety - Hutt City Council website
- Pool Safety - Kapiti Coast District Council website
- Road Safety - Kapiti Coast District Council website
Emergency Preparedness
Wellington is located on or near several major earthquake fault lines, including the Wellington Fault and the Rimutaka Fault. Almost all of Wellington’s buildings are well designed and constructed to withstand even a major earthquake, and the Wellington Emergency Management Office works to ensure Wellington is prepared for the possibility of natural disasters such as earthquakes, major storms, tsunami, or floods.
Important information on major civil emergencies is printed on the inside back cover of the Yellow Pages telephone book. The Ministry of Civil Defence and the WEMO also offer useful information on emergency preparedness.
- Wellington Emergency Management Office
- Wellington Region Emergency Management website
- Ministry of Civil Defence website
Policing
The New Zealand Police plays a major role in ensuring the Wellington region is a safe place to live. This means preventing, investigating, solving and reducing crime and road crashes. There is generally a high level of community trust in the New Zealand Police.
The New Zealand Police website provides information in multiple languages for migrants.
