Editorial: Coup won't stop us

Kiwis are all about the big OE.

We Kiwis are a curious bunch. There is a fascination with going on that overseas experience, which is seen as a rite of passage for many New Zealanders.

We travel the world, stay in questionable accommodation and try to do everything we can without paying an arm and a leg.

Young New Zealanders will often stretch out the OE for as long as their visas allow and try to make it to as many different countries as possible.

However, even when times are tough for certain places, you can't keep the Kiwis away.

In recent weeks, the political unrest in Thailand has come to a head, but it hasn't stopped us from travelling to the popular destination.

On May 7, the Constitutional Court of Thailand removed caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and a number of Cabinet ministers from office.

The Thai military has said the declaration of martial law was not a coup and that the caretaker government remained in place. It will stay in place until June 30, allowing that government to impose curfews, put up security checkpoints and restrict movement in Bangkok and surrounding provinces.

There's about 990 New Zealand nationals registered as being in Thailand and a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said Kiwis shouldn't travel to certain parts of the country.

New Zealanders have been warned to avoid all rallies, demonstrations and large public gatherings, but unsurprisingly a Tauranga travel agent says the recent unrest hasn't affected people's travel plans.

House of Travel Tauranga owner Shane Kennedy said he has been recommending people follow instructions from the New Zealand Government but said people were not cancelling their travel plans.

"We are a bit intrepid by nature and tend to want to go and have a look but it wouldn't be sensible to do at the moment. It is a hot spot at the moment," he said.

A quick office discussion has also highlighted the inquisitive Kiwi nature, with one reporter itching to go to Thailand because of the current situation while another believes as a nation, we are naive and underestimate the risks involved.

Either way, I hope any Kiwis in Thailand are keeping themselves safe and out of danger.