Register your overseas travel and/or residential details here.
It is possible, due to the weather situation, that flights to/from Pacific islands may be subject to disruption or cancellation over coming days. New Zealanders are advised to contact their airline or travel agent directly to check whether flights are affected.
Severe flooding is affecting parts of Queensland and New South Wales resulting in a number of road closures.
New Zealanders currently in flood affected areas are advised to monitor local media for information on the flooding and follow any instructions and advice issued by the Australian authorities. Motorists are advised not to travel on flooded roads. For further information visit the following websites:
Also see:
Following the recent flooding in Fiji a State of Natural Disaster has been put in place in certain areas of the Western Division to allow the authorities to focus on clean up operations.
International airports are open and flood waters are receeding. The Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism Association has reported that the tourism sector in the West is operating normally.
New Zealanders in Fiji are advised to monitor local news and weather reports closely and adhere to any instructions issued by the Fiji authorities. You should contact your airline, tour operator, and insurance provider directly if your travel plans are disrupted.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is closely monitoring the situation on the Korean Peninsula following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il on 17 December 2011. Currently, we see no increased risk to New Zealand nationals on the Korean Peninsula.
New Zealanders in the region are advised to register their details with MFAT so we can maintain contact with you.
We also recommend you monitor local media reports to stay informed of developments and follow any instructions issued by the local authorities.
Many countries require a passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your intended departure from the country. If you do not have 6 months validity on your passport, you may be stranded overseas as a result of being refused entry to a country, or offloaded at a transit point, and you will need to apply for an Emergency Travel Document or replacement passport in order to continue your travels.
You should check with the Embassy of any country you are visiting or transiting through for passport validity requirements, visa requirements and any other requirements for entry. Make sure you have at least one clear page in your passport for immigration stamps.
Take a copy of the personal details page of your passport with you and leave a copy at home with a trusted friend or family member.
Information on obtaining a New Zealand passport may be found at the Department of Internal Affairs [external link].
There are seasonal outbreaks of dengue fever in North Queensland, Australia, in many parts of the Pacific (Cook Islands, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu), as well as countries in Asia (including India) and Latin/South America. Dengue fever is a serious viral disease spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes.
As there is no vaccine to protect against dengue fever, travellers to these regions are advised to use insect repellent, wear protective clothing, and stay in lodgings where there are mosquito screens on windows and doors. If you feel unwell during your trip or in the first two weeks after your return, you are advised to seek immediate medical advice.
Recent cases of severe illness, including permanent blindness, have emphasised the need for travellers to Bali, Lombok and other parts of southeast Asia to be careful about drinking arak, a distilled palm wine. Arak is often mixed with fruit juice as part of a cocktail. The illnesses have resulted from contamination of arak with toxic chemicals like methanol. The safest option for travellers would be to avoid drinking arak, or any cocktails which contain it, but if you do choose to drink it, make sure it comes from a sealed bottle from a commercial distillery.
Thai authorities have issued a report into six deaths (five tourists and a Thai guide) and the associated illnesses of three other tourists (travelling companions) in Chiang Mai between January and February of this year. The full investigation report and actions being taken are available at http://www.ddc.moph.go.th/pnews/showimgpic.php?id=325
The report concludes that it is very likely that the cause of death in three cases, including that of a New Zealander, was exposure to some toxic chemical, pesticide or gas. According to the report the investigation could not isolate the specific causative agent, nor the manner in which the exposure took place.
Thai authorities have announced a range of measures they propose undertaking to reduce the risks to visitors to Chiang Mai and other provinces in Thailand, including greater controls and monitoring of the use of chemicals and pesticides, including in hotels and market areas. A process to receive and investigate cases of illness in tourists and expatriates has been set up at www.chiangmaihealth.com
MFAT recommends that travellers to Thailand take some basic precautions, such as carrying information about any important personal medical conditions, and if they become unwell that they seek medical attention.
The latest measles outbreak in Auckland and the Waikato is a reminder to New Zealanders to check they are up-to-date with their immunisations before they travel.
Measles outbreaks usually start with the return of a New Zealander who caught this highly infectious disease overseas. Measles is present in many countries including Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, India and Australia.
New Zealanders who have not had a full course of measles immunisations or had previous measles infection are at risk of catching measles if they travel overseas. Adults born after 1969 who are unsure whether they are immune should check with their family doctor or practice nurse.
New Zealanders should go to www.moh.govt.nz for more information, contact their family doctor or GP to check their immunisation records or phone the free immunisation helpline 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863) for advice.
On 1 May 2011, the President of the United States announced that Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had been killed during a US military operation in Pakistan. The US has issued a Worldwide Travel Alert warning of the enhanced potential for violence given recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan.
We advise New Zealanders residing in or travelling to areas where anti-Western violence could occur to exercise enhanced vigilance, monitor local news, avoid public gatherings and demonstrations, and stay away from areas where they may take place, as they could turn violent without warning.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has advised all New Zealand Embassies and Consulates of the need for security awareness.
We strongly recommend that you register your travel and contact details with us so we can contact you in an emergency.
A small number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been reported amongst travellers recently returned to Australia from the Kuta region of Bali. Indonesian health authorities and the World Health Organisation are aware of the outbreak and are investigating possible sources.
New Zealand travellers who have recently returned from Bali and experience flu-like symptoms such as fever and a cough should seek health advice straight away by phoning their doctor or Healthline on 0800 611 116 (Healthline operates 24/7).
For more information on Legionnaires’ disease (Legionellosis) see the World Health Organisation website [external link].
Page last updated: Friday, 03 February 2012, 15:39 NZDT
