Tips + Advice

Halloween Safety Tips

Our ambassador Constable Bryan Ward, who started the initiative Bryan & Bobby to teach Kiwi kids about safety, helped us put together some practical tips for keeping kids safe this Halloween.

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Trick-or-Treating:

• Always go with a parent, caregiver, or older sibling.

• Stay in well-lit streets and familiar neighbourhoods.

• Use footpaths and cross at pedestrian crossings — look both ways before crossing.

• Carry a torch, glow stick, or wear something reflective so drivers can see you.

• Arrange a meeting point in case you or someone else in your group gets lost.

• Only visit houses with lights on or Halloween decorations.

• Never go inside someone’s house you don't know.

• Check your trusted community pages or ask your neighbours to see which homes will be participating.

• If you're not comfortable with knocking on strangers doors or you're not sure if anyone is participating in Halloween on your street, ask your neighbours if you can give them some lollies beforehand to hand out to your kids so they don’t get disappointed on missing out.

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Costume Safety:

• Make sure costumes fit properly and don’t drag on the ground.

• Choose face paint instead of masks that block your vision.

• Check costumes are flame-retardant.

• Costumes don’t require realistic weapons so if your props look a little too realistic then maybe leave them at home so you don’t frighten or cause concern to others. 

• Add reflective tape or bright colours to dark costumes.

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Treat Safety:

• Don’t eat lollies or treats until an adult has checked them.

• Avoid unwrapped or homemade treats from people you don’t know.

• Watch out for food allergies — check ingredients before eating.

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General Safety:

• Be polite and respectful — some people don’t celebrate Halloween 

• Don’t knock on houses with lights off.

• Adults should accompany young children around the neighbourhood but be sure to focus on what is happening not your phone or other distractions.

• Stay together as a group — don’t wander off alone.

• Be careful around pets, especially dogs.

• Dog owners: consider bringing your dog inside for the evening, especially if they get anxious with strangers or loud noises or tend to jump up on people. Or pop up a "beware of dog" or "no trick or treaters" sign on your gate.

• Keep an eye out for traffic — remember some drivers may not expect trick-or-treaters.

• If you're not comfortable knocking on strangers doors, your could attend a local community event, or get to know your neighbours and create your own Halloween street party with a lolly scramble or scavenger hunt! 

• ​Please remember to look out for each other, and if you see any suspicious activity happening, please contact 111 immediately.

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Be aware that not every door you knock on may be a treat, they may reply trick - if they answer with “trick” please remember not to use threats or bad behaviour as a penalty for this option. Simply use your wit, talent or good manners to come back to them with something fun for all involved like "I will cast a spell and am a powerful wizard, spirit etc or you shall not pass" something fun or simply just move on with no hard feelings.

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If you choose not to take part in Halloween it might be advisable to hang a sign on your gate or letterbox stating something like "No trick or treaters please but have a spooktacular Halloween".​

Here are some posters you can download and print at home, along with a printable version of our safety tips:

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