NZ embassies' weird requests

One New Zealander asked consular staff what to do with their dog's ashes. Photo / Thinkstock

Advice on where to watch an All Blacks match in a remote French village and how to repatriate a pet dog's ashes are among the more unusual requests fielded by New Zealand consular officials overseas.

Another involved a request to pick up a suitcase from prison and deliver it to Egypt, while one cheeky New Zealander asked if consular officials would arrange for his rental property in New Zealand to be checked by police, "to ensure tenants were keeping it in good order".

The weird requests are detailed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. A spokeswoman said the ministry did not "receive a huge volume of unusual requests from New Zealanders overseas" and such requests were not strictly recorded, "however there were some did jump out".

"New Zealanders holidaying in a remote village in France rang our embassy to ask where they could watch All Blacks games on television.

"We have been asked to arrange a shower for a husband and wife who were temporarily detained at an airport."

Other requests included consular staff being asked for advice on how to repatriate the ashes of a pet dog to New Zealand.

"Our post in Dubai was asked 'can you pick up my suitcase from prison and deliver it to Egypt?"'

Requests for assistance in tracking down a 'fiance' met online, "who hasn't been heard from since being transferred money to visit", were not uncommon.

And consular staff frequently received calls from anxious family members when they didn't hear from loved ones after several hours of them arriving at an overseas destination.

The ministry had no plans to revise its current consular policy, the spokeswoman said.

The revelations follow moves by Australian officials to curb absurd requests that its travelling citizens lodge with Australian embassies and consulates, including whether someone could get a loan to pay for a prostitute in Thailand.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced the new measures this week to underscore consular services as a last resort and to promote "a stronger culture of self-reliance and personal responsibility in the travelling public".

These measures include a new policy of providing minimal consular services to Australians who willfully, repeatedly or negligently get themselves into trouble.

Charging for the consular help is also something the government is considering, she said.

"Our consular staff are not there to pay for the repairs to your jet ski; they're not there to pay your hotel bill; they're not there to lend you a laptop or to provide you with office space in the embassy for you to do your work," Bishop said, listing actual requests that Australian embassies have refused.

At the embassy in Bangkok - Australia's busiest - an Australian walked in with a prostitute and was refused a loan to pay for services already provided.

Diplomats had also fielded requests for an armoured car, help removing a polecat above the ceiling of a house and intervention to prevent payment of a speeding fine.

- Additional reporting AP