Staying safe
New Zealand is known as a relatively safe country to live and travel in. However, when you're here it's important to be as careful as you would be at home. Here’s how you can stay safe in New Zealand.
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Be smart, stay safe
The crime rate in New Zealand is lower than in many other countries, which means we have less violence and theft. We're known for being a peaceful country where you can walk or cycle around freely without being scared.
However, like any country, it's still important to be careful, especially at night, and make sensible decisions about what you're doing and who you're socialising with. If you want to be safe while you study here, you still need to be smart!
Remember, if you’re ever feeling unsafe or scared you can call the emergency phone number 111 for free. The emergency phone number 111 is for police, ambulance and fire and emergency services anywhere in New Zealand.
The operator will ask which service you need. Ask for the police. Even if your phone is out of credit, the 111 emergency phone number will still work. If you can't decide if it's a real emergency and you're still worried, call 111 and ask for the police. They will help you work out what to do.
The police in New Zealand want to help. Don't hesitate to call them.
Walking alone at night
If you're walking alone at night, here are things you can do to stay safe:
- walk with others.
- make sure a friend or flatmate knows where you’re going and when you’ll be home.
- keep to places that have street lights, and are well lit.
- don’t take shortcuts through parks or alleyways.
- keep your bag close to your body.
- don’t carry lots of cash.
- hide your valuables inside a case or bag.
- keep your phone somewhere you can reach it quickly.
- stay close to the street, not near doorways.
- don't walk with the music up so loud in your headphones that you can't hear the noises of cars or people around you.
- walk facing the traffic so you can see when cars are coming.
If you’re out walking late at night and you think someone is following you, just keep walking fast, and cross the road. If they follow, go to the nearest place where there are people, like a café or convenience store (which we call a ‘dairy’ here).
If a driver stops and asks you for directions, you can be polite, but stay far enough away from the car. If you don’t trust them, walk away in the opposite direction. You should never accept a ride from someone you don’t know.
If you're concerned about drawing attention to yourself by wearing clothing that shows you belong to a particular religion, talk to other people from your religion to get suggestions about what they do.
You can find these people at your place of worship, or at your place of study. Many places of study have student clubs or organisations that focus on helping students find others who share their religion. Connecting with others can be an excellent source of support.
Check out our information about practising your religion safely.
Tip: The New Zealand Police are friendly and trustworthy. They’re here to help you if you’re in danger. Don’t be afraid to call the police if you’re scared – call 111 and ask for police. You can find police stations(external link that opens in a new tab) in every city and town.
At bars, clubs, and parties
Having a few drinks with friends or people you work with is a great way to bond. Kiwis love going to the pub (a Kiwi slang word for a bar) after a long day at work, but drinking responsibly is important. This means you know how much alcohol you can drink safely. All bars and clubs always have non-alcoholic options available.
All of our towns and cities have great bars, clubs and restaurants that serve alcohol to people 18 years old and over. If you’re going out to have a few drinks with friends and you look 25 years or younger, you’ll be asked to provide evidence of your age, so carry your driver licence, passport or Kiwi Access card(external link that opens in a new tab) with you.
For more information about this, check out our information about the alcohol laws in New Zealand.
If you do decide to drink:
- always keep your glass or bottle in sight – it's rare but someone could put a drug in it (we call this 'spiking').
- never accept drinks from people you don’t know.
- eat food before and while you’re drinking.
- drink one glass of water for every alcoholic drink you have.
- make sure your phone is charged in case you have to call a taxi or Uber(external link that opens in a new tab).
- leave the party or club with your friends.
- if you’re using public transport to get home, sit near the driver on the bus.
Tip: If you’re drinking alcohol and you’re not 18 years old or over, you’re breaking the law. Remember, in New Zealand, you can’t drink in public places like parks or buses. If you do, you might have to pay a $250 fine!
Major incidents or events
If there is a major incident or event that will affect many people, like an earthquake or serious emergency, it's important to keep calm and to follow any instructions the Police, Civil Defence(external link that opens in a new tab) or your place of study give you.
In the case of a major incident in your area, you may receive an Emergency Mobile Alert(external link that opens in a new tab) on your cell phone from Civil Defence. Read the message and take it seriously. It will tell you what the emergency is and what to do.
If there is a major incident or event your place of study will also communicate directly with you.
Related pages
Alcohol laws and drinking responsibly
What is the drinking age in New Zealand? To be safe and have a great experience, you must follow the alcohol laws while you’re studying here. Find out what they are and how to drink alcohol responsibly.
Cigarette laws and smoking
New Zealand has laws about buying and smoking cigarettes. To be safe and have a great experience, you must follow the law while you’re studying here. Find out what the law is.
Being safe online
The internet is an important part of life as a student in New Zealand. You might find yourself using it to bank, shop or meet people more than you did in your home country. Learn about internet safety and find suggestions for being safe online.
Keeping your things safe
Stay safe in New Zealand. New Zealand's crime rate is lower than many other countries, which means we have less theft. However, it's still important to keep your things safe while you’re studying here. Learn about student insurance and protecting your belongings.