How the New Zealand Government responds to major emergencies

Some emergencies involving New Zealanders overseas require exceptional responses. 

These largely fall into two categories:

• Events where large numbers of New Zealanders have been killed or injured or face a significant threat. Examples include terrorist attacks, major accidents, pandemics and natural disasters.
• Armed conflict or political unrest leads us to advise New Zealanders to leave the country. This might require the Government to provide New Zealanders with support to leave if airlines or other transport options are not operating.

When responding to an emergency, we will support New Zealand citizens. In certain circumstances, we may also be able to help New Zealand Permanent Residents and dual nationals in the country of their other nationality (but this is not guaranteed; other countries may limit our ability to assist). 

The assistance we provide will depend on the situation. It may include:

• Advice on travel options, how to leave the affected area, and regular updates on the crisis 
• Helping New Zealanders to stay in touch with their families
• Working with local authorities, including hospitals and other emergency services, to support affected New Zealanders
• Deploying response teams to impacted areas to support New Zealanders
• Supporting New Zealanders trying to leave the area
• Liaison with the families of any New Zealanders killed or injured.

We cannot guarantee your safety during a crisis. This includes situations where armed conflict or unrest has broken out in the area you are located or you have travelled to a dangerous area against our advice.

Register your travel

Registering on SafeTravel is always important. It's how we get in touch with you if there is information relevant to the place you plan to visit. 

During a crisis, it's even more critical. New Zealanders who are not registered will not receive our updates on the security situation, routes out, and information on New Zealand Government operations. 

Government evacuation operations

While every crisis will be a significant event for the individual travellers impacted by it, most pass without any evacuation response from governments. 

In the dozens of crises the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade responds to each year, New Zealanders must make their own travel arrangements to leave impacted areas. Under no circumstances should you expect or rely on Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade operations and New Zealand Defence Force aircraft to help you leave. 

For many reasons it may not be possible for a New Zealand Government flight to operate – it may not be safe, transport infrastructure may be damaged, airports or roads may be closed, a foreign government may deny permission to operate, or commercial airlines are operating or will shortly resume services. Commercial transport options will almost always be the quickest, easiest and safest way to leave – even if it takes some days for these to resume.

In the exceptional event when a New Zealand Government flight is being considered and can operate, you should be aware of the following:

• New Zealand Government flights are slower and more expensive than commercial options
• We will not be able to organise ground transport for you to travel to an airport or departure point 
• We help New Zealanders to move to a point of safety, not necessarily return to New Zealand
• When we use commercial operators (e.g. charter flights), New Zealanders will be required to contribute to the cost of their tickets. Costs will be determined on a case-by-case basis but may be up to 50% of the total ticket cost
• In locations where MFAT has advised against all travel, particularly where that advice is long-standing, the Government may require travellers to cover their full costs.