Travel warnings

The Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry has repeated warnings against travelling to Iraq and to the North Caucasus region of Russia.

The North Caucasus is unstable and dangerous, the ministry said.

"Kidnapping is common. Foreigners have disappeared in Chechnya and remain missing. If you do travel to this area, the embassy's help in the case of an emergency would be extremely limited."

Elsewhere in Russia, New Zealanders should remain vigilant in all public places in Moscow, St Petersburg and other large cities, where pick-pocketing of foreigners was reported frequently.

"In bars, restaurants and nightclubs there have been instances of unattended food and drinks being drugged and patrons then being robbed and assaulted."