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BRITONS who voted New Zealand the world's safest country would be even more inclined to do so since the terrorist attacks on the United States, says the editor of the magazine that ran the poll.
In a survey held in July, readers of Wanderlust put New Zealand on top of the Safest Country category, ahead of Australia and Canada.
That echoes results in last month's Conde Nast Traveller, in which New Zealand scored 94.7 per cent for safety - the highest in the survey, which was also held before the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US.
Wanderlust editor Lyn Hughes said the US and Britain had scored in the top six safety in the same poll. She imagined they would not do so well now. "Even more so now, New Zealand would be seen to be a very safe place," she said.
"We also had a category which was top country, and New Zealand won that as well. They got 97.1 per cent satisfaction rating, which is stunning when you think about it.
"When British people go to New Zealand, it's very easy, very little hassle very little crime on tourists - it's a country which really does live up to expectations, and probably surpasses them."
Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said it was great to see "positive results" for the industry at such an uncertain time.