Safer Whanganui project context
This section provides background information on the project’s aim towards Whanganui District becoming designated as an International Safe Community and explains the relationship between this project and the New Zealand Injury Prevention Strategy 2003.
International Safe Community (ISC)
Safer Whanganui is a newly developing community-owned collaborative project that is mandated by the Wanganui District Council. It is aiming towards Whanganui District becoming designated as an International Safe Community (ISC) in 2010.
Safe Communities Foundation New Zealand (SCFNZ) is a champion for the promotion of the ISC Model. ISC is a World Health Organisation (WHO) concept that recognises safety as a universal concern and a responsibility for all.
This approach to community safety recognises the need for co-operation and collaboration between non-government organisations, the business sector, local government and central government agencies. In order to be designated an ISC communities must meet six criteria developed by the WHO Collaboration Centre on Community Safety. Read more about SCFNZ and being designated an ISC at the Safe Communities Foundation website.
New Zealand Injury Prevention Strategy 2003 (NZIPS03)
The work of Safer Whanganui is strongly linked to the Accident Compensation Corporation led New Zealand Injury Prevention Strategy 2003 (NZIPS03) which identifies that on average four people die each day from injury and about 3,800 are injured badly enough to seek medical help. The social and economic costs of these injuries are estimated to be at least $6 to $7 billion per year. This strategy is an expression of the government’s commitment to working with organisation and groups to improve the country’s injury prevention status.
The NZ Injury Prevention Strategy is setting the foundation for part of the work of Safer Whanganui. As this work develops it is anticipated that Safer Whanganui will be in a position to contribute to injury prevention policy development at a national level.
The strategy itself is also aligned with a number of other national strategies that address issues such as youth suicide, family violence, general violence, road safety, crime reduction and alcohol consumption.
The strategy website has more about the NZ Injury Prevention Strategy. The strategy is currently under review, and an updated version is expected to be published shortly.
