Safety first — What should I know before I visit New Zealand?

When talking about safety, the primary thing to keep in mind is that just because it’s safer than many other places doesn’t mean that there is no risk at all.

New Zealand is the second safest country in the world after Iceland (damn you Iceland!).

People come to New Zealand and assume it’s so safe that they drop their guard and start taking silly risks. They stop taking the usual precautions when traveling. Unfortunately, taking stupid chances will get you killed here too.

While in New Zealand remember to use your common sense when assessing safety.

• The majority of people are friendly, but we still have idiots and a few scattered psychos, and sexual predators here as well. These crimes happen in smaller numbers but less crime doesn’t mean ‘NO crime’. Don’t hitchhike or accept rides from strangers. Do not take the risk of walking home alone, even to save a few dollars.
• Our country is small in comparison to many others but our national parks are mighty and you can still get lost in the wilderness. When hiking or tramping, I’d urge everyone to follow the usual safety steps → Make sure that you register your intentions at the local information centers including your route and your time frames. Don’t forget to notify them again of your safe return. Distress beacons (EPIRBs) can be hired for a few dollars…