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CONTENT|CONTENU
TRAVEL REPORT
New Zealand
Table of contents
1. RECENT UPDATES
Section 2 has been updated (tsunami warning lifted).
See our Global Issues page for information on the H1N1 Flu Virus.
For more information on TOKELAU, see Section 12 below.
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2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
There is no Official Warning for this country.
New Zealand
| Exercise normal security precautions | Exercise high degree of caution | Avoid non-essential travel | Avoid all travel |
Most Canadian visitors to New Zealand do not experience problems. There are no serious security or safety concerns.
OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency abroad, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad.
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3. SAFETY AND SECURITY
The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions.
Violent crime against tourists is rare. Theft is an increasing problem and occurs from hotel rooms, tourist sites, recreational areas and unattended vehicles. Street crime is prevalent in major cities. Exercise normal safety precautions and ensure personal belongings, passports, and other travel documents are secure at all times. Do not leave personal belongings unattended, particularly in vehicles. Check with local tourist authorities before travelling to remote areas. Leave journey details with family or friends.
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4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS
It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries or regions have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties.
The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the authorities of New Zealand. However, these requirements are subject to change at any time. It is the traveller’s responsibility to check with the New Zealand High Commission and its consulates, for up-to-date information.
A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit New Zealand. The passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the date of your expected departure from the country. Canadians must also be in possession of a return or onward airline ticket, a visa for the next destination, and proof of sufficient funds (NZ$1,000 per person per month).
A departure tax of NZ$25 is required on international flights.
Tourist Visa: Not required (for stays less than 3 months)
Business Visa: Required
Student Visa: Required
A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel. Canadian citizens returning to Canada who present other documents, such as a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, birth certificate, provincial driver’s license, or foreign passport, instead of a Canadian passport, may face delays or be denied boarding by transport companies.
Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services.
Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify all visa requirements for this and other destinations, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders.
Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries or regions may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country or region without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order.
Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries or regions do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada.
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5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS
You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address:
New Zealand - WELLINGTON, High Commission of Canada
Address: 125 The Terrace, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Postal Address: P.O. Box 8047, Wellington 6143, New Zealand,
Tel.: 64 (4) 473-9577
Fax: 64 (4) 471-2082
E-Mail: wlgtn@international.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.NewZealand.gc.ca
For emergency assistance after hours, call the Canadian High Commission in Wellington and follow the instructions. You may also make a collect call to the Emergency Operations Centre in Ottawa at 613-996-8885.
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6. TRAVEL HEALTH
The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Health Web site.
The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date.
Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage.
The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada.
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7. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION
The authorities in New Zealand have implemented screening measures at the Auckland Airport in response to the H1N1 Flu Virus outbreak. Travellers entering New Zealand from affected areas are tested for the virus and quarantined and treated if deemed necessary.
According to recent research, individuals with asthma may be more at risk of experiencing health problems in New Zealand.
Good medical care is widely available. Travellers to New Zealand who are injured in a work or motor vehicle accident are generally covered for public hospital treatment by the Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Corporation (ACC). As a result of this insurance scheme, individuals do not have the right to sue for damages (apart from exemplary damages) for personal injuries that are covered by ACC.
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8. LAWS AND CUSTOMS
You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons.
Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request.
The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries or regions, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare.
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9. TRAVEL AND CURRENCY
Traffic drives on the left.
Travellers should contact the NZ Automobile Association for road conditions in adverse weather. AA Centres are available in most main areas. An AA Highway Report is also available (tel.: 0900 33 222).
On March 31, 2007, new airline security measures were introduced for all international flights departing from New Zealand. The new restrictions limit the quantities of liquid, aerosols and gels taken on board the aircraft in carry-on baggage. For more information on these restrictions, please visit www.flysmart.govt.nz.
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended.
See our FAQ on transportation in order to verify if national airlines meet safety standards.
The currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZ$). Traveller's cheques can be exchanged at banks, major hotels, and some shops. Credit cards are widely accepted. Automated banking machines are widely available.
Check with your bank for information on automated banking machine (ABM) services outside Canada. You can also check the VISA ATM locator page or the MasterCard ATM locator page for the addresses of ABMs around the world. Verify with your financial institution whether your bank card can be used with ABMs abroad. Some countries use chip and/or personal identification number (PIN) technology for credit cards. Check with your bank to find out if your credit card will be accepted abroad. Credit cards and debit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud and other criminal activity. ABMs should be used during business hours inside a bank, supermarket, or large commercial building. Leave copies of your card numbers with a family member in case of emergency.
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10. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE
New Zealand is located in a seismic zone. Canadians should know the address and telephone number of the High Commission of Canada in Wellington in the event of an emergency. There are a number of volcanoes and active thermal areas in New Zealand.
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11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Returning to Canada
Traveller's Checklist
Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes.
Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller.
Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child abroad, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government.
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12. ANNEX
Tokelau
| Exercise normal security precautions | Exercise high degree of caution | Avoid non-essential travel | Avoid all travel |
The currency is the New Zealand dollar. The economy operates on a cash only basis. There are no banks. In Tokelau, the typhoon and monsoon season lasts from November to April. Strong winds, and heavy rains can occur, causing flooding and road damage. Weather conditions can change rapidly. Travellers should keep informed of regional weather forecasts, especially before visiting remote areas, and plan accordingly.
Homosexual activity is illegal in Tokelau.
Medical facilities on the island are limited. In the event of a medical emergency evacuation may be necessary. Travellers should be aware that evacuation services are extremely expensive and advance payment is often required.
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