Remember Cyclone Season When Travelling to the Pacific

Remember Cyclone Season When Travelling to the Pacific

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade is urging New Zealanders travelling to the Pacific during the next five months to register their details online at www.safetravel.govt.nz.

Consular Divisional Manager Lyndal Walker says travellers who register their details on SafeTravel can be warned if a major cyclone approaches and given advice on local preparations.

“If you register, we can alert you by text before the cyclone arrives, so that you can be prepared. After the cyclone has passed, we can also check you are okay.”

Ms Walker says the ability to send text alerts to Pacific travellers is new this season, and means people can be easily reached without having to rely on email access.

The Pacific cyclone season starts on Saturday and runs until 30 April, with an average of nine tropical cyclones per season.

According to the NIWA National Climate Centre, eight to 12 named tropical cyclones are expected this season. There is a slightly increased risk of cyclones this season for Samoa, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Niue and the Southern Cook Islands.

At www.safetravel.govt.nz, people can also check the latest travel advice for their specific destination.

Travellers are strongly encouraged to purchase comprehensive travel insurance, Ms Walker says.

“It’s easy for New Zealanders to travel to the Pacific – but if something goes wrong, access to medical treatment and changes to disrupted bookings can be difficult and expensive.

“Put buying travel insurance on your holiday essentials list, alongside purchasing sunscreen and cancelling the newspapers.”

Kiwis can find the latest travel advice and register their travel at www.safetravel.govt.nz

ENDS

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