Anyway! I grew up in Tauranga and studied in Auckland. Of course, as a typical NZ'er I went out heaps and partied up large...we all know what that means for a kiwi! It was NEVER safe for me to be out late at night by myself, in any city in NZ. I had many terrifying experiences which fortunately turned out ok in the end, but here are some details of assaults on people I personally know and NOT out of the paper:
My Dad was beaten up in broad daylight by a man in Tga who was assaulting his wife, cos my Dad intervened.
My student flat in Mt Eden, Akl was burgled.
A friend was sexually assaulted twice in her flat in Nth Akl by the same man....and she even flatted with a policeman!
My sister-in-law's best-friend was raped in her house in Mt Eden by the "Mt Eden Jogger" while her husband popped down to the dairy.
Last year my friend's ex-flatmate, was found raped and murdered in Grey Lynn.
My sister's house was burgled in Whakatane while she was in hospital giving birth, last year.
Her husband was recently jumped on from behind while surfing and held under water for ages, for apparent abuse of surfing "rules" (He KNOWS the "rules"!)
For me, this is the only negative thing that I can say about NZ...it is a very violent society and the violence usually occurs as a result of alcohol abuse when repressed anger comes to the surface. Of course, during the day I feel completely safe in NZ, but I'd be an idiot if I'd go out at night alone. God forbid you look at anyone for a fraction too long!