A New Zealand ambulance officer working in Bangkok says the danger is intensifying.

Violence between the anti-government red shirt protestors and the army is continuing, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warning New Zealanders not to travel to the Thai capital.

Emergency services worker Marko Cunningham says there has been a definite shift in the past week and he always thought he would be safe because of his job, however two nights ago a friend was shot in the arm while in an ambulance.

He does not hold much hope for a speedy end to the unrest and fears that if the Thai government tries to clear the protesters out, there will be terrorist-type activity in retaliation.

"If the (Thai) government did say, OK, that's it, we're going to have elections tomorrow and the present prime minister leaves the country as their demands are, the hard core yellows are going to come back again."

The yellow shirts helped to force Thailand's last government from power last year.