Treasure Rotorua
TREASURE ROTORUA
In June 2010, Rotorua became the 200th “International Safe Community” in the world, and the 14th Territorial Local Authority in New Zealand to achieve this designation.
International Safe Communities is a World Health Organisation concept, which aims to encourage greater cooperation between organisations in a community so that they can work more effectively to improve safety.
To be designated as an International Safe Community, communities need to meet these six criteria:
- An infrastructure based on partnership and collaborations, governed by a cross-sectional group that is responsible for safety promotion in their community.
- Long-term, sustainable safety programmes covering both genders and all ages, environments, and situations.
Programmes that target high-risk groups and environments, and programmes that promote safety for vulnerable groups.
- Programmes that document the frequency and causes of injuries.
- Evaluation measures to assess programmes, processes and effects of changes.
- Ongoing participation in national and international Safe Communities networks.
Partners
Treasure Rotorua is the name of the Rotorua’s International Safe Community project. The project is overseen by the Treasure Rotorua Steering Group, which is made up of representatives from: Rotorua District Council, ACC, Police, Castlecorp, Toi te Ora Public Health, Iwi, Neighbourhood Support, Civil Defence and Fire Service. The Steering Group meets monthly to progress the Treasure Rotorua Strategic Plan.
Priorities
The following priority safety areas have been identified for Rotorua, based on analysis of injury and crime statistics and feedback from the community:
- Reduction of alcohol-related harm
- Violence and crime
- Road safety
- Injury prevention (including home safety, falls prevention, suicide prevention, workplace safety and leisure and recreational safety)
The following groups are over-represented in our injury and crime statistics: Youth, low socio-economic Maori, Elderly and Visitors.
This diagram shows the priority safety areas that have been identified for Rotorua:
The focus of the project for the next three years will be to promote and support safety programmes that focus on these issues/populations.
Did you know?
- An average of 33 people in Rotorua die as a result of injury every year.
- The leading causes of injury fatalities are motor vehicle traffic crashes, suicide and falls.
- Each year about 1000 people are hospitalised in Rotorua because of injury.
- A third of injuries requiring hospitalisation occur at home.
- In New Zealand, alcohol is responsible for around 35% of emergency department hospital admissions.
- Approximately one third of people aged 65 and older living in the community, and one half of people 80 years and older will have a fall in any one year.
- The economic and social implications of injuries are estimated to cost $800 million per year in the Rotorua District alone.
Benefits of the project for Rotorua
- Organisations working better together to provide effective safety programmes for our community.
- Increased safety promotion and education.
- Fewer injuries, fatalities and crime.
- Rotorua will have access to national and international safety networks and best practice information, which will help us to put effective safety programmes in place.
- Appeal to both national and international travellers - Rotorua will be acknowledged as a good place to visit because the designation shows we are committed to improving safety in our community.
- It gives us an opportunity to recognise the great work that many in the community are already doing in the area of safety.
Successes
- Recorded crime in Rotorua decreased by 24% between 2003 and 2008, including a 10% decrease in dwelling burglaries, a 7% decrease in theft from cars and a 24% decrease in sexual offences.
- Rotorua had a 27% decrease in injury deaths between 2001 and 2005.
- A 50% reduction in vehicle crime at the RDC/DoC controlled carparks was achieved as a result of CPTED assessments and implementation of recommendations.
- There was a 50% reduction in the number of visitors as victims of vehicle crime as a result of the Project Papa Waka.
International Safe Community designation does not imply that Rotorua is perfectly safe. However it does confirm that as a community we are absolutely committed to making Rotorua as safe as possible for our residents and for the hundreds of thousands of people who visit every year.
For more information please contact the Treasure Rotorua Project Leader at Rotorua District Council, Amy Duckett on 07 351 8172 or email amy.duckett@rdc.govt.nz
USEFUL LINKS
Home Safety
Safe Communities
Rotorua’s application to be designated an International Safe Community
Media Releases
1 July 2010
22 May 2010
29 April 2010
Safe Rotorua Newsletters