Fijian authorities have declared a state of emergency. Photo / Fiji Daily Post

Fijian authorities have declared a state of emergency. Photo / Fiji Daily Post

New Zealand will provide up to $100,000 in aid to help Fiji recover from it floods - but the money is going directly to the Red Cross rather than the military Government.

The aid was announced yesterday, despite relations being strained with Fiji after Commodore Frank Bainimarama's government expelled New Zealand's High Commissioner Caroline McDonald last month.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said further funding allocations would be made to "relief agencies who are working with communities affected by the flooding".

A spokesman for Mr McCully said it was "standard practice" to give aid directly to the Red Cross and New Zealand's current relationship with the military government had nothing to do with it.

Mr McCully's spokesman said Commodore Bainimarama's government had not asked for any money directly, but if it did, it would have to be considered "carefully".

Labour leader Phil Goff supported the decision to send aid, referring to Fijian people as "close friends".

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the High Commission in Fiji had not received any reports of New Zealanders needing assistance.

Hundreds of tourists from New Zealand and Australia remain stranded by flooding in the Fijian tourist hub of Nadi and outlying resorts, after storms lashed the Pacific island destination.

Authorities have declared a state of emergency in areas affected by the tropical storm, which has left eight dead and more than 9000 displaced.

Typhoid warning

Fijian health authorities are warning of a possible typhoid outbreak as a result of the torrential rain.

The Disaster Management Committee in Fiji has said it will distribute water purification tablets and equipment to affected areas.

Principal disaster management officer Patiliai Dobui said rain water treated with the tablets was the safest water to drink at the moment.

He said those who did not have the purification tablets should take precautions by boiling their water.

Mr Dobui said power supplies were cut and telephone lines were down in some places.

Stranded tourists