With more than 1,100 power banks, hair straighteners and curling irons removed from checked bags at Queenstown Airport so far this year, the Civil Aviation Authority is urging passengers to check the rules before flying these school holidays.

The Easter Bunny will be carrying all his eggs in one carry-on basket along with his power bank and spare lithium batteries this Easter, but he’ll be leaving his battery-powered hair straightener at home – and travellers should follow his lead.

“Lithium batteries are a fire risk that is growing more and more prevalent. Approved batteries must be packed in the cabin, where the crew can respond quickly if the battery overheats or catches fire,” says Fred Stein, Deputy Chief Executive of Aviation Security.

“Battery-powered hair straighteners and curling irons are becoming increasingly popular, but they can only travel safely if the battery, heating element or some other component – such as a flight-tag – can be removed. There are only a few models on the market with that feature, so it’s important to check the details on our website or with your airline.”

Many airlines have tightened their rules, requiring power banks to be stored in the seat pocket or under the seat and not used to charge devices or be recharged during the flight.

The statistics: together, batteries, powerbanks and hair straighteners, curling irons, and e-cigarettes/vapes make up 8 in 10 dangerous items found in checked luggage

From 1 January to 19 March 2026, the following number of items classified as dangerous goods were removed from checked bags at Queenstown Airport:

  • Batteries – 5,877 (68%)
  • Power banks – 979 (11%)
  • Heat-producing devices* – 167 (2%)
  • E-cigarettes / vapes – 198 (2%)

*Heat-producing devices include a range of items, the majority of which are hair straighteners and curling irons.
Queenstown Airport’s Head of Operations and Safety, Juliet Breen, said: “With the busy school holiday travel period approaching, we’re encouraging travellers to double check what they pack in their bags,”

“We want to ensure that those travelling through Queenstown Airport have a smooth and safe journey, so double-checking the rules and reminding friends and family will help us achieve that.”

What you need to know before flying

  • Damaged or swollen power banks or batteries must never be taken on an aircraft.
  • Power banks and all spare lithium batteries must be in carry-on only.
  • To carry spare or loose batteries safely: keep them in their original packaging, or in individual zip-lock bags, or cover the exposed terminals with electrical tape to prevent short circuits.
  • Most airlines allow power banks up to 100 Watt-hours without prior approval, and some may accept batteries up to 160 watt-hours. Check with your airline before you travel to be sure.
  • Battery-powered heated hair styling devices are NOT permitted in either carry-on or checked baggage unless the battery, heating element, or other component can be removed. An example of 'other component' is a flight-ready tag that, when removed, isolates the battery from the heating element.

Still unsure of the rules? Always check with your airline or visit aviation.govt.nz/packsmart before you fly.