10 Tips for staying safe in New Zealand
New Zealand is an attractive travel destination, but crime levels have been on a rise. Does this mean that you have to avoid visiting this beautiful piece of Earth? No way! Not if you take the necessary precautions; learn how you can protect yourself.
Is New Zealand a safe place to visit?
This question seems to be the topic of the day and a question that is both on the tongues of locals and tourists.
But let me ask you this… Is New York safe? Is the neighborhood you live in safe?
The fact of the matter is, nowhere on Earth can be seen as "safe" in this day and age. You need to be vigilant wherever you are and wherever you go. And that also goes for New Zealand!
Crime, violence, and disregard for authority has been on an increase in the past few years. And more so in this economic downturn when people are struggling to survive.
The crime rate has been on the rise particularly in and around larger cities such as Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. It is particularly bad in South Auckland, but crime takes place everywhere in the country; not just in the big cities.
New Zealand of today is not New Zealand of 10 years ago.
When I visited New Zealand for the first time back in 2001, I came here alone. And as a young female tourist, I was not afraid to drive all over the country, stay in towns I hardly knew anything about, or go for long hikes like for example in the bushes of Mount Taranaki and get lost – or almost. Today, I am much more careful about going for a hike, alone or in the bushes, because times have changed…
On the other hand, I’ve traveled all over the world, alone. And I can assure you that all of those places I visited were 100% foreign to me, I did not know a soul wherever I went, and was not afraid to explore those locations. How come?
Simply because I had thoroughly done my homework and had taken the necessary security measures to keep myself safe. I had done such a good job of it that everywhere I went people thought I was a local!
You can do the same when you come to New Zealand.
10 Common sense safety tips to keep you safe in New Zealand
Here are a few tips for staying safe in New Zealand:
- If you decide to go for a hike or drive, and are staying at a motel, let the motel owner know what your plans are and when you intend to be back. Do this especially if you are traveling alone. Kiwis (= New Zealanders) are very friendly and helpful people, and they’ll raise the alarm if you go missing. And trust me, people have gone missing in New Zealand.
- Do not go for a walk late at night.
- Do not leave valuables in your car.
- Lock up your car and motel room when you leave.
- Lock up your car and motel room as soon as you’re inside.
- Always be aware of what is going on around you; do not let something or someone catch you by surprise.
- Carry yourself with confidence. Muggers generally look for easy targets. Don’t look like you’re an easy target!
- Do your homework! If you’re going for a walk, know how long the walk will take, carry enough water and food, research what kind of terrain you will be entering, and take a map along with you. I can honestly say that I learned this the hard way, but after my first experience with running out of provisions and getting lost, I now always carry enough food and drink and more importantly, a map and compass along with me.
- This is a difficult one, but try to prepare yourself mentally for anything that may happen. Go through as many scenarios as you can and ask yourself: “If this happens, what would and should I do?” Many say you cannot mentally prepare yourself for situations, but I’ve proven time and again that you can. One incident I will never forget is a close bear encounter I had in Alberta, Canada. I was alone, and had I not prepared myself prior or read all of the tips on how to deal with bears, I would not have been able to remain calm nor alert others of the imminent danger. By the way, we don’t have bears here in New Zealand.
- And this last piece of wisdom comes from my late Mom: “Do not keep all of your money in one place”.
Bonus tip:
Know the emergency number (111) and the location of any police stations in or near the places you’ll be visiting.
You can also read about my own personal experience with traveling to and in New Zealand alone.
Conclusion
So there you have it… Do not be afraid to visit New Zealand, but don’t be negligent either of the dangers. New Zealand is like any other country in the world, so take the same safety precautions you would take in any other country in the world.
And finally, enjoy New Zealand and its people when you visit. It’s one of the most gorgeous countries in the world.
Filed under How-To Travel Guide
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