KEY POINTS:
Passengers on flights leaving the country will be grounded unless they comply with strict new guidelines for taking liquids on board.
From the end of March, overseas airline travellers will not be allowed any liquids, aerosols or gels in their carry-on luggage unless:
* They are in containers of 100ml or less.
* The containers are in a one-litre, re-sealable, transparent plastic bag.
Exemptions apply for personal medications, baby products and dietary supplements, though these may also be checked.
The changes shadow similar moves in Britain and the United States and follow International Civil Aviation Organisation recommendations.
The Government hopes a campaign telling the public of the new guidelines will minimise delays and fuss.
"Experience overseas has shown that once passengers understand the security measures, delays are kept to a minimum," said Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven, who launched the campaign yesterday.
The measures will boost airfares by $4.50 per outgoing passenger.
Passengers can carry only one bag for liquids and it must be presented as they move through security.
Those who do not comply will have to discard their liquids, otherwise they cannot board.
Passengers are still free to buy liquids, including duty free, once they have passed through security, but are warned that rules on bringing in duty-free items differ in different countries.
Aviation Security Service general manager Mark Everitt said the changes would add 15 seconds per passenger to the screening process - if they presented their bags correctly and had nothing suspicious in them.
For a flight with 400 passengers, that is an extra 100 minutes of security checks. But he said this would be offset by the 162 extra staff now in training.
"I don't want delays to passengers and long queues but, of course, there will be delays."
Mr Everitt admitted it was an adjustment for passengers.
"People will say this is illogical. I understand where they're coming from, but we have to do this [otherwise] we can't fly to other countries."
The changes got a mixed reaction from international travellers at Wellington Airport yesterday.
A Finnish traveller said they were "ridiculous. The next step will be that I can't take a book with me."
But traveller Vicki Goss was more sympathetic. "It's a bit of a pain but it's probably necessary. People will get used to it."
The requirements will kick in here at the same time as Australia, where most international flights are headed.
Mr Duynhoven said it was more about following international trends than any real threat of terrorism.
"New Zealand has to introduce these measures for flights to Australia on the same date, to allow our flights to Australia to continue."
But he acknowledged the origin of the move: the arrests in Britain last August of people wanting to board aircraft with liquid explosives disguised as water bottles.
Travel Agents' Association NZ chief executive Paul Yeo said it did not take much effort to comply.
"We've coped and adapted pretty well with what's happened in the last few years. After one or two months it will be business as usual."
Not allowed - unless they meet the requirements below
* Water and other drinks, soups, syrups, jams, sauces.
* Food containing a high liquid content.
* Creams including sunblock, insect repellent, face creams.
* Roll-on deodorant and sprays, including hair spray.
* Hair wax or hair gel.
* Mixtures of liquids and solids, including lipstick and blusher, lip balm.
* Perfume, mascara and liquid eyeliner.
* Anything that can be poured, sprayed or smeared.
The requirements
* Pack all liquids, aerosols and gels into containers of 100ml or less, and keep these in a one-litre re-sealable plastic bag.
* Show the bag separately to security staff when carry-on baggage is screened.
