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Glam Monitor

Which NZ island is safer?

Author

Daniel Martin

Updated on August 14, 2026

The South Island has plenty of safe havens. The town of Queenstown and the Central Otago district next to it both feature low crime and geological stability.

What is the best island to live in NZ?

Best Places to Live to New Zealand as an Expat

  1. Living in Auckland (North Island) ...
  2. Life as an Expat in Wellington (North Island) ...
  3. Hamilton (North Island), a Cheaper Option for Expats in New Zealand. ...
  4. Napier (North Island) for Wine-Loving Expats. ...
  5. Christchurch (South Island) ...
  6. Moving to Queenstown (South Island)

Where in New Zealand has the least earthquakes?

Areas close to the Alpine Fault carry the highest risk (zone 4), while the northwest North Island (including Auckland) and southeast South Island (including Dunedin) carry the lowest risk (zone 1).

Which city in New Zealand has the lowest crime rate?

  • Hamilton. The small city of Hamilton, with approximately 130,000 residents, is the safest location in New Zealand – depending on how you look at it. ...
  • Christchurch. As the largest city on the South Island, Christchurch is hugely popular with expats. ...
  • Queenstown. ...
  • Auckland. ...
  • Wellington. ...
  • Nelson.

What's better North or South Island NZ?

Generally speaking, if you want to engage with city culture or explore Maori history, the North Island is for you. If you want to deep-dive into nature, the South Island has plenty of lakes, mountains, fjords, and glaciers to discover.

31 related questions found

Is Auckland or Queenstown better?

Queenstown may be top for fantastic scenery and landscapes, but Auckland has a beauty of its own. It has parks, botanical gardens, sandy beaches that can make your visit worthwhile. Within the vicinity, you can hike, get close to nature, and take a dip in the beach.

Which is the warmest island in New Zealand?

New Zealand's climate gets warmer the further north you go, so the North Island is generally much warmer than the South. Head north of Auckland to the subtropical Bay of Islands and you'll stays warm even in the winter months!

What is the safest town in NZ?

Wellington is New Zealand's safest large city.

What is the poorest town in New Zealand?

Kawerau is New Zealand's poorest town. It has the country's lowest average income, its highest share of sole parents and beneficiaries, and has been dominated for 30 years by the Mongrel Mob.

Which city in NZ has the most murders?

Canterbury Metro has the most murders on the map, with 13 over three years. In second-equal place were Counties/Manukau South, Hamilton City, Manawatu, and Otago Coastal - all on eight murders. In sixth were the Far North and Waitakere, with seven murders each.

Which part of New Zealand is prone to earthquake?

New Zealand experiences large numbers of small earthquakes, in a well-defined belt stretching from Fiordland to East Cape and the Bay of Plenty. This pattern is part of the 'Ring of Fire', the almost continuous belt of volcanoes and earthquakes rimming the Pacific Ocean.

Why is New Zealand the safest place?

New Zealand is the second-safest country in the world. Like Iceland, New Zealand has a very low crime rate, especially violent crime. Theft, however, is a common occurrence, especially for tourists. New Zealand has no deadly animals, unlike its neighbor down-under, Australia, known for having some dangerous wildlife.

Where in NZ gets the most earthquakes?

The zone where the strongest shaking is likely corresponds to the southern part of the Alpine Fault, extending along the Hope Fault into Marlborough. The 2010–11 Canterbury earthquakes are outside the areas of greatest statistical risk of high ground shaking.

Is it better to live in North Island or South Island?

People who like higher temperatures and warmer weather, but don't mind a bit of rain, would prefer living in the north. However, those enjoying more sunshine, but not minding chilly mornings, will find South Island a better place to live.

Where should I live on the South Island?

News & Articles

  • 1) Christchurch. The largest and most diverse city on the South Island is Christchurch. ...
  • 2) Queenstown. A playground for adults who love seeking thrills, Queenstown is on everybody's minds when you say the words 'South Island'. ...
  • 3) Nelson. ...
  • 4) Dunedin. ...
  • 5) Invercargill.

Where do the rich live in New Zealand?

With over one hundred Auckland suburbs sitting on or around the average sales price of one million dollars, it's not surprising that the Auckland region is the obvious leader in the luxury housing market in New Zealand.

What is the wealthiest town in NZ?

Queenstown and the Lakes District, the South Island's internationally renowned tourist area, has been rated as New Zealand's most affluent place to live.

What is the wealthiest city in NZ?

Auckland. The biggest city in New Zealand is also its most expensive. Auckland has some of the highest prices for goods, services, food, entertainment, and rent.

Is Taupo a good place to live?

Taupo is considered a family friendly town. As it has a relatively low crime rate, it is safe with an active local community and lots of town pride. Plus, when you add in the water-sports, hiking, sixteen primary schools, daycares, kindergartens and local amenities, your kids won't want to leave.

Is Rotorua a safe place to live?

It found that despite its reputation as a tourism hotspot, Rotorua is actually a 'problem spot' for crime - topping a list of New Zealand locations with the highest crime level. "The South Island [has] generally, much safer communities, lower levels of crime," Justin Lester of Dot Loves Data explained.

Where is the driest place in New Zealand?

Wairarapa is the driest place in New Zealand, with some parts bordering on drought conditions.

Where is the coldest place in New Zealand?

The lowest temperature ever recorded was −25.6 °C (−14.1 °F) at Ranfurly in Otago in 1903, with a more recent temperature of −21.6 °C (−6.9 °F) recorded in 1995 in nearby Ophir.

Which area of New Zealand has the best climate?

1. Gisborne. Located on the east cape of the North Island and protected by high country to its west, Gisborne constantly sees the highest temperatures across all of New Zealand and is also the first city in the world to greet the sun of a new day.

Is Auckland warmer than Wellington?

Rough and ready climate comparison

Auckland enjoys greater year round warmth than NZ's other largest cities – Christchurch and Wellington. Christchurch is cooler than Auckland and enjoys fewer rainy days. Wellington is also cooler than Auckland and, although wetter than Christchurch, has more dry days than Auckland.