Rotorua aiming for International Safe Community status

Treasure Rotorua, a collaborative project between Rotorua District Council (RDC) and a number of local agencies, is aiming to achieve ‘International Safe Community’ designation for Rotorua in June this year.

International Safe Communities is a World Health Organisation (WHO) concept developed for local communities and aimed at encouraging greater cooperation and collaboration amongst non-government, businesses, central and local government agencies.

Treasure Rotorua has identified alcohol-related harm, violence, crime, road safety, and injury prevention as priority areas for the Rotorua district.

RDC Safe Community Designation Leader Amy Royston says working collaboratively provides more effective safety programmes for the community. Over time this will to help improve the quality of life of Rotorua residents through fewer injuries and reduced crime.

“As a result of working closely with the community and analysing injury and crime data, we’ve developed a better understanding of injury issues that face Rotorua people.

“If we are successful in gaining International safe Community designation the key focus of the project for the next three years will be to promote and support safety programmes that help reduce alcohol-related harm, violence and crime, and improve road safety and injury prevention.

"By working better together and increasing awareness of safety issues, we hope to see fewer injuries and fatalities, less crime, and a reduction in the burden and cost of health care. The economic and social implications of injuries are widespread and estimated at $800 million per year in the Rotorua district alone.

“Becoming an International Safe Community means Treasure Rotorua will have access to national and international safety networks and best practice information to help us achieve our objectives.”

To achieve International Safe Community status, cities have to demonstrate that they meet six key criteria; including having programmes in place that target a wide range of safety issues and strong relationships between agencies.

Treasure Rotorua is a collaborative project between Rotorua District Council, ACC, Rotorua Police, Lakes District Health Board, Ministry of Social Development, Toi te Ora, Te Arawa iwi, Neighbourhood Support, and Te Waiariki Purea Trust.

ENDS

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