There is a threat of violence or conflict

Keep yourself safe

If you’re in a place where there is a threat of conflict or violence, do everything you can to stay safe.

It might be safest to stay inside, but if you need to go outside:

• Stay alert. If you see something suspicious or dangerous, leave the area.
• Avoid large crowds, demonstrations, and protests.
• If you see large numbers of police or armed forces, leave the area.
• Avoid taking photos of local authorities or demonstrations.
• Try not to stand out or draw attention to yourself.
• Avoid areas where incidents have been reported.

Protests and civil unrest

Avoid protests while travelling overseas.  See Major events, protests and civil unrest, for more information on how to stay safe if there is civil unrest in the place you are staying.

If you’re planning to leave

You may decide to leave the area or country and get somewhere safer. If local authorities have issued an official evacuation order, you should leave. If you stay in a place that has evacuated by official order, your travel insurance might not be valid.

If you decide to leave, act quickly. There may be high demand for flights, trains, or buses out of the area. It may be weeks or months before you are able to leave if you don’t act early to secure your departure option. Transport providers may also cancel operations at short notice.

Shelter in place

Get ready to shelter in place

If you decide to stay, or you’re not able to leave, you should get ready to shelter in place until it is safe to leave. Hotels and resorts should have plans and supplies for tourists to shelter in place in a crisis.

If you need to shelter in place, here are some things to prepare:

• Water and food – get enough bottled water for all the people in your group, in case the water is shut off or unsafe to drink. Make sure you have a supply of long-life food.
• Supplies – get things like torches, batteries, and radios, in case you can’t go outside and power is out.
• First aid – get a first aid kit, and make sure you have a supply of any daily medications you may need.
• Devices – charge your devices and power banks when you have the opportunity, in case the power goes out.
• Sturdy shoes and clothing – if you need to go outside, there may be debris and sharp objects on the ground.

Steps for sheltering in place

If you need to shelter in place, follow the advice of local authorities or your hotels and resorts staff. If you are sheltering in place because of:

• drone or missile attacks, see our guidance below
• nuclear or chemical incident, see our advice here
• natural disasters or severe weather event, see our advice here. 

Drone and missile attacks

If you are in an area where it is possible drone or missile strikes may occur, you should know what to do before it occurs.

Know how alerts are communicated

Know how alerts are communicated in your location (for example, sirens or mobile phone alerts). Sign up to ensure you receive any alerts issued by local civil defence authorities if this exists in your area. 

Be aware that drone or missile attacks could occur without any official warning being issued. 

Know what to do 

Follow the advice of local authorities at all times. This includes any evacuation orders or shelter in place instructions. Monitor and subscribe to local media to stay informed of local developments.

Ensure a supply of drinking water (e.g. fill bathtub with water) and food.  Turn off the electricity and the gas. 

Know where to go

Know where to go if an attack occurs, including whether there are shelters in your location or nearby.

If there are no designated shelters, immediately move inside a building and ideally to a basement, subway tunnel, or interior room away from windows.  

If you cannot reach a basement, use sturdy furniture like tables, mattresses, or books to create a barrier. Avoid exterior walls (including leaning against a wall), glass windows, wooden doors, and rooms with ceramics (like bathrooms/galleys) that can splinter or shatter.

If caught outside, find the lowest ground (like a ditch), lie flat on your stomach with your hands protecting your head, and keep your mouth slightly open to equalize blast pressure.

Shelter in place until you receive an all‑clear notification, or for at least one hour after the last attack or intercept is heard. 

Do not congregate in large groups, especially in the open. 

After an attack, avoid approaching drones or missile fragments as they may still explode.

Know likely targets

Understand and avoid 'no go' areas. Know where likely targets are and avoid these locations.  Relocate to a safer location if they’re close by and it is safe to do so. 

Likely targets include military bases, oil infrastructure, critical infrastructure like airports, power plants and sub-stations, telecommunication sites, de-salination plants.

Stay in touch

If the violence makes the international news, your friends and whānau in New Zealand will be concerned for your safety. Get in touch with them when you can to let them know you’re safe and what your plans are.

You should also register your details your contact details with us if you haven’t already. We don’t know you’re in a crisis location if you are not in touch with us. The primary way we communicate with New Zealanders offshore, including sharing information about the local situation and how to stay safe, is sending messages and updates to New Zealanders who have registered with us on SafeTravel.  

Information and advice

In an emergency, local authorities are the best source of current and correct information and advice. Follow the advice from local governments, police, and emergency responders.

Some governments will have emergency mobile alerts or emergency alert apps that they use to communicate advice and information in a crisis. Ask hotel staff or a local authority how to access official information.  

Monitor the news and social media for updates and take all official warnings seriously.

We also update our travel advice or send information directly to those registered on SafeTravel.

New Zealand Police provide information on what to do if there is a terrorist attack. Make sure you know the local emergency contact numbers in your destination.

Know what to do | New Zealand Police

The New Zealand Get Ready website has information on what to do in an emergency and how to be prepared.

Find out more on the Get Ready website

Check our travel advice

New Zealanders in need of consular assistance can contact the 24/7 consular emergency line on +64 99 20 20 20.