Pokemon – choose safety. This is the message from New Zealand Police following the launch of the new Pokemon Go app.

The smartphone app, powered by a combination of Google Maps and your camera, takes the traditional format of the Pokemon video games (walking around fighting and capturing made-up animals) and plants it into the real world.

Virtual monsters are popping up thanks to the new Pokemon Go app.

Basically, all you do is walk around your city centre/local park/neighbour's garden until your phone alerts you to a pokemon's presence. At this point you attempt to catch it by flicking pokeballs in its general direction. Simple and seemingly addictive. Read more here.

Police are warning people that while they are out and about playing the game, they also need to be aware of their surroundings.

'So you gotta catch 'em all – but don't let your pursuit of virtual monsters get you into real strife,” a post on the NZ Police Facebook page reads.

'We'd like players of the new Pokemon Go game to watch out for real-world hazards while using their phones to hunt Pokemon around our communities.

'Never use your phone while driving; don't step into the road without looking; watch out for others – particularly if they've got their noses buried in their phones; be aware of what's happening around you; and respect other people and their property.”