Health and Safety in Niue
Let’s be honest, safety will not a major concern when travelling in Niue. The country is pretty much as safe as it gets with almost non-existent crime, very few viruses, and no deadly animals. In this guide on how to stay safe in Niue, we’ll go over every aspect of safety in Niue just so you know what you are in for when visiting this tropical paradise.
Before we get into our guide to safety in Niue, be sure to bookmark The Complete Travel Guide to Niue and the 31 Tips for Travelling in Niue for even more travel advice.
Quick Health Tips for Niue
- Make sure your vaccines are up to date before travelling, as advised for any trip throughout the South Pacific – see Do You Need Vaccines to Travel to Niue? for more advice
- Give a good read to our “Can you Drink The Water in Niue?” article to know what is safe to drink and what is not
- Pack your own first aid kit using our guide on What Medication to Pack in Your First Aid Kit For Niue
- If you are feeling ill, be proactive a see a local doctor. They are well-trained and will be able to get you back on your feet in no time
- Sunscreen is your best friend! The sun is hot and harsh in Niue so make sure to use a lot of sunscreen and reapply regularly
- If you get cut on rock or coral, make sure to disinfect the wound quickly and use a proper band-aid
- For any pre-existing conditions, take no risks and pack enough for your whole trip. Niue is small and can sometimes suffer shortages.
Check out more tips with our 10 Health Tips for Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comCrime and Personal Safety
As mentioned previously, Niue is pretty safe. In fact, Niue may be one of the only places in the world where humans seem not to have brought crime. There is only one prison on the island, right by the golf course – how relaxed!
Petty Theft
We’ve looked into petty theft and have not found many reports of tourists suffering from such offences. Nevertheless, exercise basic commonsense like not blatantly leaving your bag full of expensive valuables unattended in public places.
Data Theft
Due to the poor internet access on the island, you are unlikely to be hacked or to suffer credit card fraud. In fact, the credit card system is often out of service on the island for hours at a time. On the same note, we advise you to bring enough cash with you to last you the trip…
Sexual Harassment
Niueans are deeply religious and, as such, are extremely respectful. They will feel offended by excessive public displays of affection and open homosexuality. Although we advise behaving conservatively, any display will not result in attacks. Homosexuality is not illegal in Niue.
Niue Police Contact Details
Niue Police Emergency Number: 999
Niue Police Station: 4333
(c) PixabayHealth
There are not many ways to get hurt or sick in Niue. There are no dangerous animals and despite the fact that there are only 1,500 inhabitants, the country has a hospital. Note that some serious injuries have to be airlifted to New Zealand.
Medical Issues That Can Occur in Niue
The main health issues that can occur in Niue relate to the sun and food. With the intense sun comes the risk of heatstroke and sunburn, while a different diet can come with a few bowel complications.
Heatstroke
Heatstroke is not fun and features symptoms like confusion, vomiting and a major headache. To avoid them, make sure to protect yourself against the Niuean sun. Use high-factor sunscreen, wear a sun hat and drink plenty. If you think you are suffering from heatstroke, see a doctor as soon as possible.
Mosquito Bites
Although mosquitoes do not carry infectious diseases in Niue, they can leave you with annoying itchy bites. We’ve got you covered with 10 Tips to Avoid Mosquito Bites in Niue so you are well prepared to fend against thugs of all sorts.
Coral and Rock Cuts
The coral and rocks are sharp around Niue so watch your footing while exploring the coastline. We suggest wearing shoes, including reef shoes in the water, at all times even when the locals are going around the forest barefoot. They are used to it, tourists are not.
Diving Decompression
Divers will be aware that this is a risk when diving anywhere around the globe. There are no decompression chambers in Niue so take extra caution when diving to avoid getting the bends.
Infectious Diseases
The only major risk of an infectious disease in Niue is traveller’s diarrhoea, but to be fair, this is something that you can catch almost anywhere you visit. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to mitigate the risk.
E-Coli (Traveller’s Diarrhoea)
You can catch traveller’s diarrhoea from consuming contaminated food or water. It can be food that has been washed with contaminated water, cooked with contaminated water or simply a sip of water from a contaminated source. We’ve got a full article on 6 Ways to Make Sure the Water is Safe to Drink in Niue and you can help too by washing your hands regularly as you may be contaminating the water by exposing it to your own dirty hands.
If you end up catching traveller’s diarrhoea, you will experience symptoms such as fever, drowsiness and diarrhoea. In that case, drink plenty of fluids. Alternate water and electrolytes to keep your body up and running. A good alternative, if you do not have access to electrolytes, is a can of coke. In most cases, it is simply a waiting game, as there are no antibiotics for this disease.
Ciguatera
This is caused by eating reef fish that have eaten very specific toxic algae. It is best to ask the locals what reef fish is Ok to eat, or if fishing with an operator, stick to larger game fish rather than reef fish. If you experience vomiting, diarrhoea and numbness in your fingers within 24 hours of eating reef fish, consult a doctor immediately.
(c) niuepocketguide.comMedical and Travel Insurance for Niue
If your current insurance includes trips abroad, give them a bell to let them know when and where you are going and you should be good to go. Otherwise, you may want to consider purchasing medical and travel insurance for the length of your trip to Niue.
Your medical insurance should include evacuation, as Niue’s hospital has to refer serious injuries and illnesses to New Zealand. Consider getting cover for sports such as snorkelling, scuba diving and mountain biking, if you are planning to do any of those when in Niue. For your travel insurance, look for inclusions such as trip cancellation, illnesses and injuries, as well as lost luggage.
We have a full guide to medical and travel insurance for Niue A043 at the ready if you are keen to start your research.
