Is New Zealand as safe as we like to think it is?

Safe.
1. secure, out of or not exposed to danger 2. not leading to harm or injury

I believe that New Zealand is the safe place we like to think it is. We all understand that there are risks and dangers in life. Everything we do involves a risk; when crossing a road we may be run over by a out-of-control car, when doing the dishes we may slip on some water and crack our head open, when plugging in the hair-dryer we may be electrocuted. Different decisions lead to different outcomes, which may be safe or unsafe. If you pick out all the dangers and worries in New Zealand such as, drunk driving, teenage pregnancy, gang violence, and drug dealers, you would see a nations that is not safe. However when you look at the bigger picture and compare New Zealand to the rest of the world, you can see how lucky we are to be living in a 'safe' country.

In New Zealand we are not exposed to extreme dangers such as war, extreme poverty, terrorism and disease. Although things such as poverty may exist, it is no where near as bad as 3rd world countries. Here, human rights are respected and everybody has access to medical help, food, water and education and we are safe in knowing this. We are safe from war, our lives, families and country is not being ripped apart by the brutalities of war. We feel safe from terrorism as we think: who would want to blow up us? we are such a small nation, nothing will be achieved. Ourselves, our brothers and sisters are not taken or sold as child laborers and forced to work in terrible conditions with virtually no pay. Our parents do not have to work in a dangerous environment, such as a electronic-waste scrap yard where they are exposed to toxins which cause all sorts of damage to the human body. There is no ongoing epidemic such as HIV/AIDS which kills people, leaving their children as orphans and harms the economy. We are safe from these things.

New Zealand is the safe country we like to think it is. Yes, there are problems such as, family violence and drunk driving, but every country has these sorts of problems. Looking at the bigger picture I believe that New Zealand rates high in safety when compared to the rest of the world. There is no raging war, deadly epidemics, extreme poverty or terrorism. We are lucky to be living in a safe country.