Figures released by the Ministry of Social Development show that since the changes were introduced, 525 Hawke's Bay benefits were suspended when recipients failed to notify WINZ about their travel.
Manager of Napier Peoples Advocacy Society Carol Olsen said the changes were fair.
"You've got to notify changes to the department ... people should do that and be up front."
The service had dealt with only one local who had lost his benefit from travelling overseas, but this was reinstated once it was revealed it was cut over a technicality.
As of April this year, more than 21,000 Kiwis had their benefits cut for travelling overseas.
The largest group of suspensions were the nearly 11,200 people on job seeker benefits, followed by more than 4800 sole parents, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said at the time.
"Every day we hear stories of how people cannot live on the benefit. Today you're hearing that literally thousands can not only live on it, but can afford to travel overseas as well."
The changes have saved the country more than $10.5 million in suspended payments, she said.
Ministry of Social Development deputy chief executive Debbie Power said while the rules were tighter, they still allowed for overseas travel on "compassionate grounds".
This included allowing people with no work obligations, such as those collecting assistance for caring for someone who's injured or disabled, to travel for up to 28 days out of the 52-week period.
But for everyone else, "the new rules reinforce that people should be ready and available for work, not prioritising travel," Ms Power said.
Meanwhile, more than 900 beneficiaries were prosecuted in the financial year to June establishing fraud debt worth more than $32.6 million.
Benefits suspended for overseas travel
Hawke's Bay - 525 (June)
National - 21,000 (April
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