Safety

Safety in New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the world's safest countries, consistently ranking near the top of global peace and safety indices.

Safety Rankings

Global Peace Index: 4th globally with score of 1.323, reflecting safe and peaceful environment

Quality of Life: 14th in the world with index of 185.24

Safety Index: 51.85 (moderate rating) with generally low crime rates and strong political stability

Crime and Personal Safety

Violent Crime: Rare, especially against tourists. New Zealand has low levels of violent crime compared to most countries.

Property Crime: Petty theft and car break-ins do occur, particularly at tourist hotspots, beaches, and hiking trail car parks.

Scams: Generally low risk. Be cautious with online transactions and accommodation bookings.

Emergency Services: Excellent. Call 111 for police, fire, or ambulance. Response times generally good, though can be longer in very remote areas.

Natural Hazards

Earthquakes: New Zealand sits on tectonic plate boundary. Earthquakes are common but most are minor. Buildings designed to strict earthquake codes.

Volcanic Activity: Several active volcanoes, particularly in central North Island. White Island/Whakaari erupted in 2019. Monitoring systems in place.

Weather: Rapid weather changes, especially in mountains. "Four seasons in one day" is common. Flash floods and landslides can occur during heavy rain.

Beach Safety: Strong rip currents common. Swim between the flags at patrolled beaches. Over 20 drownings occur annually at NZ beaches.

Road Safety

Driving Challenges:

• Drive on LEFT side of road (major adjustment for Americans, Europeans)
• "Driving on the wrong side is a leading cause of serious injury and death for US tourists"
• Narrow winding roads, especially rural areas
• Tourist drivers involved in disproportionate number of accidents

Tips:

• Take time to adjust to left-side driving
• Pull over to let faster traffic pass
• Road trips take longer than expected - winding roads, not highways
• Rental car insurance important

Outdoor Safety

Hiking/Tramping: New Zealand's greatest risks come from the outdoors, not crime. Mountains and bush can be dangerous for unprepared hikers.

Always:

• Check weather forecasts
• Register intentions with someone or use online trip planning
• Carry appropriate gear (weather changes rapidly)
• Use Department of Conservation (DOC) huts and facilities
• Don't underestimate distances or difficulty

Healthcare and ACC

ACC: Remember that New Zealand's ACC system covers all accidents, including for visitors. If you're injured, treatment is covered.

Emergency Care: Public hospitals provide free emergency care for everyone. For serious emergencies, call 111.

For Women Travelers

New Zealand is generally very safe for women traveling solo. Standard precautions apply: avoid walking alone late at night in unfamiliar areas, trust your instincts, use registered taxis or Uber.

For LGBTQ+ Community

New Zealand is LGBTQ+ friendly with strong legal protections. Same-sex marriage legal since 2013. Wellington and Auckland have active LGBTQ+ communities.

Terrorism Risk

Low. New Zealand's isolated location and small population make it a low-risk target. The 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks were a tragic exception, leading to significant gun law reforms.