Official advice for New Zealanders living and travelling overseas
From the 23rd June to 2nd July Madrid will host WorldPride 2017. The festival itself will take place in the neighbourhood of Chueca and the main streets of Madrid. For further information on the festivities please visit WorldPride 2017.
A large number of New Zealand citizens travel to Pamplona, Spain for the San Fermin festivities that take place from 6 to 14 of July 2017.
Running with the bulls is dangerous. The run takes place in a narrow crowded alley in which there are two particularly dangerous sections where a number of deaths have occurred. Every year a number of people are injured and hospitalised. New Zealanders have been amongst them.
Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have announced they plan to suspend all flights to and from Qatar from 6 June 2017 until further notice. Qatar has also announced they plan to suspend all flights to and from these destinations.
From no later than 25 March 2017, passengers on direct flights inbound to the United States and the United Kingdom from certain airports in the Middle East and North Africa will not be allowed to carry electronic devices larger than a cell phone or smart phone in carry-on luggage or other accessible property. Electronic devices that exceed the size limits will need to be secured in checked luggage.
For flights to the United Kingdom, the UK government has provided maximum dimensions for electronic devices permitted in carry-on luggage (length: 16.0cm, width: 9.3cm, depth: 1.5cm).
NOTE: The Executive Order detailed has not come into force. Derrick K. Watson, a federal judge in Hawaii, has issued a nationwide temporary restraining order against enforcement of the revised travel ban executive order. Our advice remains that any New Zealand’s who require advice on entry into the United States should contact the United States Embassy or Consulate General in New Zealand before travelling.
Yellow fever is an acute viral disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Infection with the yellow fever virus causes varying degrees of disease, from mild symptoms to severe illness with bleeding and jaundice. About 15% of people infected with yellow fever progress to a severe form of the illness, and half of those will die, as there is no cure for yellow fever.
New Zealanders travelling to South Africa should be aware that from 16 January 2017, all New Zealand passport holders will be required to obtain an entry visa prior to travelling to South Africa. New Zealanders arriving in South Africa on or after 16 January 2017 should ensure they have the correct visa.
The South African High Commission in Wellington has provided information on the visa application process.
An outbreak of Dengue fever is currently ongoing in American Samoa, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau and Vanuatu. Dengue fever is a viral disease spread by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito and can cause significant symptoms. Symptoms include high fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, joint pain, muscle and bone pain, rash and mild bleeding (e.g nose bleeds). A small proportion of dengue fever cases have a severe disease which can lead to shock or death.
On 13th October 2016 the Government of Thailand announced the passing of His Majesty The King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej. The interim government has announced an official mourning period of one year from 14 October. To convey our sincere sympathy it is important that we fully respect and comply with the etiquette and protocols surrounding this period of royal mourning.
