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Data and statistics user guides

Date Published: 
November 2016

The five reports available from policedata.nz contain data from the Recorded Crime Victims Statistics (RCVS) and the Recorded Crime Offenders Statistics (RCOS) collections.

RCVS is about victims of crime, so only includes crimes that clearly have an identified victim. RCOS also includes crimes that do not have a clear victim, such as drug offences.

These statistics present a detailed picture of who is affected by crime in New Zealand, who is committing it, the relationship between offender and victim, and how offenders are being dealt with.

RCVS and RCOS were introduced in 2014-15. Updated RCVS and RCOS data are released at the end of every month to provide the most up-to-date information possible. They replace crime statistics previously released twice-yearly.

You can find out more about these new statistics in the RCVS briefing (PDF, 314KB) and RCOS briefing (PDF, 253KB).

User manuals on RCVS (PDF, 390KB) and RCOS (PDF, 339KB) are also available. 

Evaluation of the 2013/14 Safer Summer Road Safety Campaign

Date Published: 
November 2014

The 10km/h speed enforcement threshold has been reduced to 4km/h during official holiday periods in New Zealand since Queen’s Birthday weekend 2010. The 2013/14 Safer Summer road safety campaign was the first time the speed enforcement threshold reduction had been extended beyond official holiday periods to a full two month period.

The campaign was carried out by Police from 1 December 2013 to 31 January 2014, and supported by the wider road safety sector. It involved a well-publicised reduced speed enforcement threshold, combined with intensified and highly visible speed enforcement.

The final report evaluates the effects of the campaign on speeding and crashes.

Briefing to the Incoming Minister 2014

Date Published: 
November 2014

The Briefing to the Incoming Minister 2014 outlines the key achievements, challenges and future areas of policing in New Zealand. The briefing is written by the Commissioner of Police and is presented to the incoming Minister of Police.

The briefing gives an overview of New Zealand Police, the changes achieved through Policing Excellence, and an overview of the challenges and work to come. It describes the extent of cross agency work as well as summarises Police’s functions, the legislation administered and the relationship between the Minister of Police and New Zealand Police.

Christchurch earthquake

185 people died as a result of the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck the Canterbury region on 22 February, 2011. Christchurch, the country’s second largest city, suffered widespread damage, particularly in the central city and eastern suburbs. The eastern suburbs also suffered significant liquefaction.

The quake, which was centred 2 kilometres east of Lyttelton and 10 kilometres south-east of central Christchurch, followed a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on 4 September 2010. No one died as a result of the September 2010 earthquake, but parts of the city and surrounding area suffered significant damage.

Thousands of aftershocks followed the 22 February 2011 quake, some large enough to cause additional damage.

In April 2013, the rebuilding cost of Christchurch and the surrounding Canterbury region was estimated at $40 billion.