Western Bay of Plenty city leaders are committing to strengthening the region's safety for another five years by renewing allegiance to the World Health Organisation's Safe Communities programme.

Safe Communities Foundation New Zealand director Tania Peters watches on as Western Bay of Plenty Police area commander Clifford Paxton signs the International Safe Community documents. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Earlier this week about 14 signatories put pen to paper on the new charter to become re-designated as an International Safe Community – six years after Tauranga first signed on.

In 2008 Tauranga City became the seventh designated Safe Community in New Zealand and number 142 in the world.

Signatories include Tauranga City Mayor Stuart Crosby, TCC chief executive Garry Poole, Western Bay Mayor Ross Paterson, Bay of Plenty Regional Council chair Douglas Leeder, Western Bay of Plenty Police area commander Clifford Paxton and NZ Fire Service area commander Murray Binning.

Since then various community organisations and businesses have joined the collaboration including Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the NZ Fire Service.

Tauranga Safe City coordinator Mike Mills is pleased to see the Tauranga Moana Safe City partnership growing in number, commitment and effectiveness.

'I think that's a measure of the confidence those agencies have. It wouldn't have grown and strengthened in the way it has if they felt it was a bit of a waste of time,” says Mike.

The partnership and collaboration focusses on creating safer environments and increasing the adoption of safer behaviours.

In the last four years there has been a 26.3 per cent reduction in reported crime in Tauranga while in 2013 sexual assaults dropped 23.7 per cent, burglary was down 19.1 per cent and assault to cause injury also down 8.8 per cent.

'What we are saying is because we have focussed on these things - it's contributing to achieving the positive outcomes.

'People are still asking if it's making a difference and these stats and graphs categorically show that what we are seeing is that Tauranga is a safer place.”

Since 2006, Tauranga Moana Safe City has raised more than $2million in funding for programmes and coordination.

This money has largely come from contestable sources, where its reputation for quality, effectiveness, monitoring and evaluation has seen Tauranga Moana Safe City at the leading edge of programme design and delivery.

Such programmes include the first Off-licence Alcohol Accord in New Zealand, pioneering alcohol-related ‘brief interventions' with police, and a partnership with Bay of Plenty Rugby Union focussing on eliminating bullying.

Mike says the charter shows there is a total commitment to the model in helping ensure the city is a safer place for everyone.

'When we celebrate Tauranga Safe City it's not just the things we do, it's the things that everyone is doing to make the city a safer place.

'And we are celebrating everyone's achievements that we may be directly, or indirectly involved with, but they do all contribute.”

With the charter freshly signed immediate priorities include revising the strategic plan, improving data gathering and analysis, and ensuring financial sustainability, says Mike.

The programme addresses the priority areas; a sustainable structure for Tauranga Moana Safe City, achieving ongoing recognition at a national and international level, and educating the community on the importance of creating a safe city and the role that they can play in helping to achieve this.