Consular Assistance

The Embassy can provide assistance and guidance to any New Zealander in serious distress - for example, if you have been involved in an accident, been hospitalised, arrested or detained, or you have lost your passport.

The Embassy's telephone number is (03) 3467-2271. This number can be phoned after-hours for advice of urgent after-hours numbers.

The Embassy can:

• Give guidance to New Zealanders in trouble, with the primary aim of helping them to help themselves.
• Help you contact relatives or friends back home for financial help, if you find you need this.
• Depending on the circumstances, visit you in hospital or prison and monitor your well-being.
• In an emergency, provide you with a small loan to help with your immediate needs, against a signed undertaking to repay.
• Arrange for next of kin to be informed in case of accident or death, and advise on procedures.
• Provide voting facilities if you are away for a New Zealand General Election or a by-election.

The Embassy cannot:

• Pay your hotel, travel or other bills, bail or medical expenses.
• Help you with arrangements which could be readily handled by local organisations, such as banks, lawyers, travel agents, or funeral directors.
• Give you legal advice, or get you out of prison.
• Get you better conditions in a hospital or prison than a local national would receive.
• Give you a loan, other than in an emergency situation (see above).
• Trace missing persons or investigate a crime. These are police matters.
• Hold or send mail on your behalf.