Latest news with #SafeTravel
RNZ News
7 days ago
- RNZ News
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and trade concerned about Thailand-Cambodia conflict
Royal Thai Army soldiers are pictured on armoured vehicles on a road in Chachoengsao province. Photo: LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA / AFP The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has updated its travel advice, saying it's concerned by the exchanges of fire on the land border between Thailand and Cambodia. New Zealand supports the efforts by ASEAN to de-escalate the dispute, and calls for restraint, diplomacy and dialogue, MFAT said in a statement. At least 12 people, including civilians, are reported to have died since violence broke out on Thursday. Both sides accuse the other of firing first. Cambodia said it fired rockets, while Thailand launched an F-16 fighter jet that later dropped two bombs on a road leading to a Cambodian temple . Thailand said a soldier had lost his leg in a landmine. A Thai government spokesperson said it had expelled Cambodia's ambassador and withdrawn its own envoy from Phnom Penh. MFAT's SafeTravel website now advised the land border between the two countries was closed and travellers should avoid the affected area. In a statement, a MFAT spokesperson said, "travellers are advised to monitor the situation and to check the status of the border with local authorities." "New Zealanders travelling in Thailand and Cambodia should register their details with SafeTravel," they said. New Zealand had received consular inquiries since tensions between the two countries escalated on 28 May, but there were no current consular cases, the spokesperson said. That skirmish left a Cambodian soldier dead. Thai and Cambodian officials met in June to try and ease tensions over the long-running dispute across the 820-kilometre border area, which both sides have laid claim to for decades. - RNZ/Reuters
NZ Herald
23-07-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Boxing: Jerome Pampellone to fight Albert Ramirez in WBA light heavyweight title eliminator in Libya
Kiwi boxer Jerome Pampellone insists he has no fears about travelling to Libya, a country currently listed at level 4 on SafeTravel because of safety concerns, after locking in the biggest fight of his career to date. The 29-year-old will square off against unbeaten Venezuelan Albert Ramirez in a WBA
1News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- 1News
NZDF plane lands in Middle East — no takers from Kiwis in Israel
A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Hercules aircraft has landed in the Middle East as part of New Zealand's contingency plan to assist New Zealand citizens seeking to leave Iran and Israel. The aircraft, which took off from Auckland's Whenuapai airbase on Monday, and other NZDF personnel were positioned in the region and on standby if required. Earlier this week, Defence Minister Judith Collins said the deployment of the aircraft was part of contingency planning. "By positioning an aircraft and Defence and Foreign Affairs personnel in the region, we may be able to do more when airspace reopens." The contingent included New Zealand Army soldiers trained specifically for evacuation operations and were ready to operate out of a staging area if called upon. ADVERTISEMENT Senior national officer Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Kelly said the team was "well-prepared and postured" to respond. "Our priority is to work alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade staff to support those affected, to ensure we provide the care and urgency the situation demands." RNZAF personnel unload the C-130J aircraft in the Middle East. (Source: NZ Defence Force) No evacuation requests from Israel, Iran options 'extremely limited' — MFAT The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said there were currently 133 Kiwis registered as being in Iran and 111 in Israel. "Many travellers have heeded advice to leave through overland border crossings where it was safe to do so," an MFAT spokesperson said. The spokesperson said demand from New Zealanders for assistance to depart Israel had "declined considerably in the last few days". ADVERTISEMENT "We do not currently have any requests from New Zealanders for support to depart Israel." In Israel, MFAT offered New Zealanders the option to depart via government-organised bus charters on June 24 and 25. However, the situation in Iran remained "challenging and complex", they said, with options to support any New Zealanders trying to leave "extremely limited". "At this time, land border crossings remain the only option. We are aware that some New Zealanders have departed via land border crossings, however given the situation and with limited communications in the region, it may not be possible for New Zealanders to update their information on SafeTravel." All New Zealanders in the Middle East – not just in Iran and Israel – were urged to register on SafeTravel. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade was running 24/7 consular operations in the region. New Zealanders in Iran and Israel needing urgent consular assistance should call the Ministry's Emergency Consular Call Centre on +64 99 20 20 20.
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
New Zealanders In Israel Not Taking Assistance To Leave
New Zealanders in Israel are not taking up the opportunity to leave, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). The message to New Zealanders in Iran and Israel has been to do everything they can to leave, if they can find a safe route. But a MFAT spokesperson said the ministry was not receiving requests from New Zealanders in Israel seeking to depart. "We arranged a land evacuation option for New Zealanders in Israel yesterday, however, no New Zealanders took up that option," they said. A New Zealand Defence Force C130-J is enroute to the Middle East to assist New Zealanders stranded in Iran and Israel. Where the plane will be based is not being disclosed for security reasons, but it is expected to arrive by Friday local time. The plane is a contingency for when airspace in the region reopens. The number of New Zealanders registered on SafeTravel as being in Iran is 139, while 110 are registered in Israel. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said there were "more coming out of the woodwork in Iran". "But then [in] Israel, we're seeing a lack of desire to move, so we maybe should be focused far more on Iran's circumstances," Peters said. Peters said New Zealanders in Israel wanted to "stay in situ" but noted their circumstances had changed. Defence Minister Judith Collins reiterated the message for people to leave if they could. "If people don't want to leave, they have to understand that we can't go in and get them out," she said. Acting Prime Minister David Seymour said it was currently "very challenging" to get people out of Iran. There were also ongoing disruption to phone and internet connectivity, although MFAT would continue to attempt to contact people registered with SafeTravel by phone, email, and WhatsApp.
Otago Daily Times
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Kiwis in Israel not taking option to leave: MFAT
RNZAF C-130J Hercules Aircraft departs RNZAF Auckland Base for the Middle East. Photo: NZDF/Jalesa Normani via RNZ New Zealanders in Israel are not taking up the opportunity to leave, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). The message to New Zealanders in Iran and Israel has been to do everything they can to leave, if they can find a safe route. But a MFAT spokesperson said the ministry was not receiving requests from New Zealanders in Israel seeking to depart. "We arranged a land evacuation option for New Zealanders in Israel yesterday, however, no New Zealanders took up that option," they said. A New Zealand Defence Force C130-J is enroute to the Middle East to assist New Zealanders stranded in Iran and Israel. Where the plane will be based is not being disclosed for security reasons, but it is expected to arrive by Friday local time. The plane is a contingency for when airspace in the region reopens. The number of New Zealanders registered on SafeTravel as being in Iran is 139, while 110 are registered in Israel. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said there were "more coming out of the woodwork in Iran". "But then [in] Israel, we're seeing a lack of desire to move, so we maybe should be focused far more on Iran's circumstances," Peters said. Peters said New Zealanders in Israel wanted to "stay in situ" but noted their circumstances had changed. Defence Minister Judith Collins reiterated the message for people to leave if they could. "If people don't want to leave, they have to understand that we can't go in and get them out," she said. Acting Prime Minister David Seymour said it was currently "very challenging" to get people out of Iran. There were also ongoing disruption to phone and internet connectivity, although MFAT would continue to attempt to contact people registered with SafeTravel by phone, email, and WhatsApp.
