The Australian state of New South Wales will send 200 police officers to Christchurch this week to join state emergency specialists already on the ground.
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally said on Wednesday the officers would leave for Christchurch on Friday morning.
They will be used for traffic control, patrols to prevent looting
and other tasks, joining 100 police from other parts Australia.
``Our officers stand ready to offer assistance to Christchurch authorities as they respond to this devastating earthquake,'' Ms Keneally said in a statement on Wednesday.
NSW is sending a total of 73 emergency service specialists to Christchurch, which was devastated by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake on Tuesday, leaving at least 75 people dead.
Some 40 rescue workers left late on Tuesday, and another 33 departed on Wednesday.
Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Greg Mullins said on Wednesday a team of 34 of the initial group was already doing rescue work at the Pyne Gould Corporation (PGC) building in Christchurch.
``That's the building people would have seen a woman trapped on the upper floors being rescued by firefighters,'' he told reporters.
Mr Mullins said victims had been found alive in the wreckage.
A woman, believed to be an Australian named Anne Vos, has been trapped under a desk deep in the rubble of the building and rescuers are trying to find her.
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said he had been in constant contact with New Zealand Police Commissioner Howard Broad since the earthquake struck.
``He has sought assistance from Australia in the shape of some 300-plus police officers,'' he told reporters in Sydney.
NSW was providing about 200 officers and others would come from Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the Australian Federal Police.
``As a group we are working towards ensuring we give every support possible,'' Mr Scipione said.
``Duties over there will include everything from traffic to general patrols, but most importantly we're there to provide ... safety and security.''
Mr Scipione said sending the officers later in the week was more efficient that going earlier.
``It is not as if New Zealand is not in a position to provide their own policing service, far from it,'' he said.
``This is dealing with the fatigue factor, which you will start to see some three or four days in.''
