DIA reminds New Zealanders to keep their passport safe
23 January 2026
Your passport is a ticket to overseas adventure. But every year, thousands must be replaced because they’re damaged or lost. In 2025 alone, almost 40,000 passports were reported lost, damaged or stolen.
To encourage New Zealanders to keep their passports safe, we’re sharing some of last year’s most memorable mishaps. It’s a timely reminder to treat your passport as your most important travel companion. And remember, if you are planning on travelling, check that expiry date—it might be expiring sooner than you think!
We know our passport is pretty eye-catching and kids obviously think so too. In 2025 there were several child-related ‘whoopsies’ reported:
- “My niece was searching for her colouring book, found my passport, and accidentally ripped out a page.”
- “My little brother found it in my handbag and cut it with scissors.”
- “My nephew had gotten into my glove box and pulled everything out including my passport, ripped the pages out and played with it all through the sand and beach.”
As a water-loving nation it’s only natural that sometimes our passports run into some soggy situations. Water is one of the most common culprits of passport damage. Here are a few examples from the past year:
- “My passport was in my pocket when I lost my balance and fell into a swimming pool.”
- “I dropped my passport in a bath.”
- “I dropped my purse in the ocean with my passport inside.”
- “My passport was lost while I was at Raglan Beach on a boat.”
- “I fell into the water on a jet ski, and even my ‘waterproof’ bag couldn’t save my drenched passport.”
We love a double-shot flat white just as much as anyone, but trust us, your passport doesn’t. One unlucky person reported that they “knocked coffee onto my passport with a pillow. The corners are now stained.”
While these stories might make you chuckle, the consequences are no joke. Damaged or lost passports can mean denied boarding, delayed travel plans and unexpected costs.
If the unexpected does happen, report the damage or loss online on passports.govt.nz, even if your story involves capsizing a yacht or a rogue cup of coffee. We’ve heard it all before!
Tips to keep your passport safe
- Store it securely: Keep your passport in a safe, dry place when not in use. Avoid carrying it around unless necessary.
- Avoid water: Don't take your passport near pools, beaches, boats, or baths. Waterproof bags can help, but they’re not fail-proof!
- Keep away from kids: Children are creative and sometimes destructive. Store your passport out of reach and sight.
- Be mindful at events: If you use your passport as ID, keep it close and don’t leave it behind.
- Check regularly: Inspect your passport for any damage, stains, missing pages (and the expiry date) before travelling.
Look after your passport, and it will look after you wherever in the world you choose to go. For further information on passport safety and how to apply for a replacement, visit passports.govt.nz.
Media contact:
DIA Media Desk
media@dia.govt.nz
+64 27 535 8639
