Go, but pay attention.
Numbeo's Safety Index puts Christchurch at 55/100 for crime — that makes it read sketchier than New Zealand's national picture overall (80/100 vs 84/100).
City page · part of New Zealand
The one number a country page can't give you
What people who actually live in Christchurch report
Numbeo aggregates thousands of resident-submitted perception surveys into a per-city Crime Index (higher = worse) and its inverse, a Safety Index — the only real city-granularity crime signal feeding this page, alongside New Zealand's national advisory, political, health, and police-trust data.
Crime Index
44.7
Safety Index
55.3
Sub-scores
Same real inputs as New Zealand's national page, with crime swapped for Christchurch's own Numbeo number above.
Local know-how
Staying safe in Christchurch, specifically
- • Christchurch has a problem with smog during the winter, but only at night.
- • While violent crime is relatively rare, some people do have a tendency towards aggression when drunk, as in most cities.
- • Aftershocks from the 2010-11 earthquakes have long since subsided.
Legal status (national law)
Legal since 1986+ UN decl. sign.
Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country →Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
I · 230V
Driving side
left
Emergency
police: 111 / ambulance: 111 / fire: 111
Tipping
Tipping is not part of New Zealand culture and is often treated with suspicion or actively frowned upon, as many people view it as an Americanism that over-compensates certain workers while others are left out. Give the waiter a smile and a thank you instead.
Cash vs. Card
The currency used in New Zealand is the New Zealand dollar, denoted by the symbol "$" or "NZ$" (ISO code: NZD). It is divided into 100 cents. In this guide, the "$" symbol denotes New Zealand dollars unless otherwise indicated.
How this compares to New Zealand
Numbeo's Safety Index puts Christchurch at 55/100 for crime — that makes it read sketchier than New Zealand's national picture overall (80/100 vs 84/100).
See the full New Zealand page and all receipts →