Prime Minister John Key says the Government may consider using Defence Force planes to get New Zealanders out of Egypt if the situation worsens.
Egypt is in a continuing state of crisis as anti-government protesters determined to end the 30-year rule of President Hosni Mubarak throng the centre of the capital Cairo.
Six days of protests have left 125 people dead and thousands more injured throughout the country.
Several countries are organising charter flights to get their citizens out of Egypt, including the United States, Australia, China and Japan, amid reports hundreds of people are stranded at Cairo International Airport after dozens of flights were cancelled.
Mr Key says the Government is urging New Zealanders in Egypt to leave and providing whatever support it can.
Using Defence Force planes is an option if the Government thinks it needs too, but it has not yet been advised this is the case, he says.
The New Zealand embassy in Cairo has been unable to reopen after the demonstrations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says the ground floor of the embassy has been damaged during the protests and the building has no electricity.
Staff are working from Ambassador Rene Wilson's residence.
Mr Wilson says New Zealand troops stationed on the Sinai peninsula near the Egypt-Israel border have been confined to barracks by Egyptian authorities as a result of the protests.
The commander of the multinational force in place to monitor the 1973 peace agreement between the Egypt and Israel is a New Zealander and 28 New Zealand troops are serving in the force.
Warning not to travel to Egypt
MFAT has upgraded its travel warning to Egypt, advising New Zealanders against all travel to the country. Nearly 295 New Zealanders have registered with its Safe Travel website.
Ambassador Rene Wilson says New Zealanders should leave if they are concerned about their safety.
Mr Wilson says seats were still available on commercial flights, though New Zealander Craig Cochrane in Cairo says he was unable to leave on Sunday because the commercial flight he was booked on was cancelled.
Mr Cochrane says he wants to leave Egypt now, but it is extremely difficult trying to get any useful information on possible flights out. The Egypt Air office was so full it had to be shut, and a flight which looked promising was cancelled.
People were on the streets with weapons in an attempt to protect their property and by Sunday morning tanks had moved into the area where his hotel is located, he says.
"We've been moved to a different hotel and the gunfire outside (is) slightly unnerving, trying to keep away from windows, just really would like to be out of the country at the moment and back home."
MFAT says there is an extreme risk to security. It advises those who are already in the country to avoid areas where protests may occur, exercise caution in public places and maintain a high level of personal security awareness.
NZ community holds fears over violence
Some Egyptians in New Zealand are calling for the end of Hosni Mubarak's presidency.
Wahleed Wahsh, who lives in Christchurch, says Egypt has been going backwards for a long time, with poverty, poor health and education standards and worsening public services.
Shereef Taweefek, also in Christchurch, says he cannot contact members of his large family in Egypt by telephone or via the internet.
Mr Taweefek says with police absent and vigilante groups being formed to defend against looters and criminals, he is very worried about their safety.
Bunce caught in unrest
Former All Black Frank Bunce has been caught up in the street protests in Cairo as he filmed a television travel documentary.
Mr Bunce told Morning Report he and his crew were caught up in a few scuffles and were pushed, shoved and kicked - though he did not think he was in serious danger as others in the crowd helped them.
The 48-year-old said at one point staff in the hotel they were in told guests to go up onto the roof as there were looters outside. He saw people armed with sticks, swords and rocks.
