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New Zealand is one of the safest
travel destinations in the world, with a low crime rate, few
endemic diseases and a first-class healthcare and accident
compensation system. However we still recommend you observe the
same precautions with your personal safety and possessions as
you would in any other country, or at home:
- Invest in travel insurance
before leaving home
- Don't leave valuables
(especially your passport, cash or cameras) in parked cars
or campervans, particularly at scenic spots or at
trail-heads for popular tramps
- Avoid walking in isolated,
unlit areas at night
- Carry a basic first-aid kit
for use in emergencies
In New Zealand you can ask for
help from the police whenever you are unsure or feel threatened
- they are happy to provide information and advice. Do report
any theft and crime to the police immediately.
In an emergency (Fire, Police,
Ambulance, Search & Rescue) dial 111 from any phone.
With a little care and common
sense, your visit to New Zealand should be accident-free. If you
are injured here, you may need the help of the Accident
Compensation Corporation (ACC) - New Zealand's accident
compensation scheme.
In New Zealand, you cannot sue
anyone for compensatory damages if you are injured. Instead ACC
helps pay for your care - and that means paying towards the cost
of your treatment and helping in your recovery while you remain
in New Zealand.
You still need to purchase your
own travel and medical insurance because ACC does not cover
everything. ACC only covers treatment and rehabilitation in New
Zealand, and usually you must pay part of the cost yourself. If
you have a serious injury, with long-term effects, you may also
be eligible to be assessed for lump-sum compensation once the
injury is stable.
The ACC does not pay any
additional costs resulting from an accident, for example delayed
or curtailed travel costs, travel home, treatment at home and
loss of income in your home country.
We strongly advise you to arrange
your own health insurance. New Zealand's public and private
medical/hospital facilities provide a high standard of treatment
and service but it is important to note these services are not
free to visitors, except as a result of an accident.
Visitors bringing in a quantity
of medication are advised to carry a doctor's certificate to
avoid possible problems with New Zealand Customs. Doctor's
prescriptions are needed to obtain certain drugs in New Zealand.
No vaccinations are required to
enter New Zealand.
Given New Zealand's subtropical
climate, it is no surprise that New Zealanders like to spend so
much of their leisure time in the water. However water can
conceal hazards. We recommend that you visit
Water
Safety New Zealand's website, for advice on how to stay safe
on New Zealand's beaches and waterways.
Beaches with potential hazards
are often patrolled by lifeguards, who put up yellow and red
flags - Water Safety New Zealand recommend that between these
flags is the safest place to swim on these beaches.
Other advice includes having an
adult watching over children at all times, to listen to advice
from life guards, never swim or surf alone, learning to
recognise rip currents, always using safe equipment, never
swimming or surfing when tired or cold, considering other surf
users and staying out of the water if in doubt.
Although there are no snakes or
dangerous wild animals in New Zealand, you should be aware of
the following:
- Variable Weather - Weather
conditions in New Zealand alpine areas can change rapidly.
Be prepared for cold wet weather if you plan to walk in our
National Parks, whatever the time of year.
- Sandflies - In wetter areas,
particularly in Fiordland, sandflies can be pests, but are
effectively controlled by use of an insect repellent.
- Giardia - Giardia is a
water-borne parasite that causes diarrhoea. To avoid
contracting it, it is best not to drink water from lakes,
ponds or rivers without first boiling, chemically treating
or filtering it.
- Sunburn - New Zealand's
clear, unpolluted atmosphere and relatively low latitudes
produce sunlight stronger than much of Europe or North
America, so be prepared to wear hats and sun block if you
plan to be out in the sun for more than 15-20 minutes.
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