Are there any bad neighborhoods/suburbs in or around Christchurch, New Zealand?

Question

My fiancee and I are going to be moving to New Zealand from the United States, and we don't really know anything about the area. I have to find a place to stay online at least temporarily, and wanted to be sure that I didn't put us in any areas that are high crime or possibly dangerous. I realize that New Zealand in general is going to probably be safer than the US, but I figure every big city has some level of seedy underbelly to be avoided. If anyone has any input I'd greatly appreciate it.

Answer 1

In Christchurch, the areas with the worst reputations would be Hornby, Templeton, Aranui, Shirley, New Brighton, Linwood, Hilmorton, Hoon Hay and the areas surrounding them. I wouldn't recommend living too close to the city because it's full of boy racers (car hoons) etc. Riccarton/Ilam is full of idiot students who are drunken vandals so you might wanna avoid the areas around the university too.

But then again, lots of people live in these places and probably find them delightful.

Like the other guy said, the best way to tell is to look at the neighbourhood, (which of course you can't do if you're looking over the internet) but don't fall for Hoon Hay/Hilmorton. It actually looks quite nice, but I know a few people who have been beaten up there.

I assume you're not looking for somewhere ultra-rich if its a temporary thing. Maybe look into suburbs like Burnside, Bryndwr, St Albans, Spreydon, Beckenham, Northcote if you're wanting something average. As a general rule, northern suburbs are nicer & eastern suburbs are nasty.

Oh, and ignore what that other guy said about closer to the water (sea?) being better. Not true at all. Eastern suburbs nasty... The richest suburbs are slightly north of centre city and up on the hills.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Compared with any American city, the roughest parts of Christchurch are nice. Aranui, between the city and New Brighton at the seaside, would be about the roughest part of town. We lived in St. Albans, which would be one of the rougher areas, but crime wasn't a problem. Christchurch is a staid, clean respectable sort of place with lots of parks and gardens. The expensive parts are Ilam, Fendalton, Bryndwr, Sumner and the Cashmere Hills. The most downmarket places are Sydenham, Sockburn, Hornby, Aranui and St. Albans, but there isn't anywhere I'd advise you to avoid. The Prime Minister lived in an ordinary house in Sydenham in the 1970s, and his phone number was listed in the book. Of course, the hospital A&E department is busy on Saturday night, same as any other city, and if you've got a craving for action, go to Cathedral Square after pub closing time.

Answer 4

As you said, the places where things aren't entirely as sunny as in others still do exist in Christchurch, but it's hard to pinpoint, as it just means "one bad family in one good street" somewhere, somehow. Telltale signs may be especially old and souped-up cars standing around, bottles on the pavement, couches on the lawn, or generally dilapidated houses surrounded by a few more just like it. Cars with a skull-and-steel helmet design on the back are ample warning not to hang out around these people too long, too, as it is the logo of the Mongrel Mob, New Zealand's very own organized crime gang, but you wouldn't be seeing much of that around Christchurch, it's an Auckland thing. But the odd one may pop up.
In short:
If it looks dodgy, it well may be. If you feel comfy, you will be. Plus: The closer to the water you go, the more expensive and safer it usually is, too. So if you are planning to remotely book something over the web, just grab a map of Chch and pick something whose infrastructure looks convenient enough for your purposes, by the water.
Good Luck! Welcome to NZ.

Answer 5

Hi there, visit this website below:

http://library.christchurch.org.nz/

It has all the info you need. Sorry I do not come from there. However, being a librarian, customer service is our number one priority. Just contact them by email, and they will certainly help you.

Any immigrant in NZ is more than welcome to live here, especially if you don't want to live in Auckland!