Asia and Oceania

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain appropriate comprehensive medical and travel insurance before travelling.  If you intend to participate in adventure activities, such as bungee jumping, water boarding, white water rafting etc, you should ensure that your travel insurance covers these types of activities.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  See Travel Insurance for more details.

 

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is how we can help.

 

Consular Assistance

 

Routine consular matters are covered by The British High Commission in Wellington.

 

Auckland is primarily a trade office but can offer limited consular assistance in an emergency.

 

British Consulate-General, Level 17/151 Queen Street, Auckland1; (tel: +64 9 303 2973; fax: +64 9 303 1836); www.uktradeinvest.co.nz/

 

The Cook Islands

 

Most visits to the Cook Islands are trouble-free.  You should check that local water sports and tour operators have adequate insurance.  The level of serious crime is low, but incidents of petty theft do occur.  You should not leave your belongings unattended and should use hotel safes for passports and valuables.

 

Health

There have been confirmed human cases of the A (H1N1) virus (Swine Flu) in The Cook Islands. The World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Threat Alert Phase has been raised to Level 6. The WHO website at: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html has further details. You should monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk.

Medical facilities are limited and therefore medical evacuation by air ambulance may be necessary.  We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  In the event of a medical emergency, evacuation to mainland New Zealand is likely to be the only option for treatment, and insurance policies should cover this eventuality.

 

Between October 2006 and 15 May 2007, 1383 cases of Dengue Fever were reported, a large number of which were on Raratonga.  As at June 2007 the Dengue fever risk is said to be low.  For more information on the disease, please consult the World Health Organisation's Dengue fact sheet (under ‘health topics’) at the following website: http://www.who.int/topics/dengue/en/

You are advised to check with local visitor’s bureaux on local customs/courtesies.

There is no resident British Diplomatic Mission in The Cook Islands and currently no Honorary Consul in the Cook Islands. British citizens needing assistance should contact the New Zealand High Commission:

Address 1st floor, Philatelic Bureau Building, Takuvaine Road, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Postal Address PO Box 21, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Telephone +682 22 201 Fax +682 21 241
Email:  nzhcraro@oyster.net.ck

Routine consular matters are covered by The British High Commission in Wellington.

 

Niue and Tokelau

 

Most visits to the islands of Niue and Tokelau are trouble-free.

 

You are advised to check with local visitor’s bureaux on local customs/courtesies.

 

There is no resident British Diplomatic Mission in either Niue or Tokelau.

 

Medical facilities are limited and therefore medical evacuation by air ambulance may be necessary.  We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  In the event of a medical emergency, evacuation to mainland New Zealand is likely to be the only option for treatment, and insurance policies should cover this eventuality.

 

In case of emergency in Niue contact:

 

The Hon Sandra Lee

New Zealand High Commissioner

Tapeu

Alofi

P O Box 78

NIUE

Tel + 683 4022; Fax + 683 4173

Office Hours: Monday to Friday 0730 to1200hrs, 1300 to 1600hrs

 

In case of emergency in Tokelau contact:

The Honorary British Consul in Samoa
Dr Stephen Rogers
PO Box 1953, Apia

Telephone: (685) 27123
Mobile: (685) 7733562
E-mail: rogerss58@yahoo.co.nz

Routine consular matters are covered by The British High Commission in Wellington.