A syphilis surge in Christchurch has sparked a call for more awareness about safe sex.
In the past 18 months, syphilis cases have doubled in the city, according to the New Zealand Aids Foundation.
The jump in syphilis cases was due to gay and bisexual men having unprotected sex, Aids Foundation executive director Shaun Robinson said.
He said gay and bisexual men were "far more at risk" of contracting syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections than heterosexuals.
"87 per cent of all cases of syphilis in New Zealand are amongst gay and bisexual men," he said.