Appeals and donations for flood victims kick into gear

7.30pm

The New Zealand Red Cross is leading a co-ordinated appeal to help flood victims in the lower North Island and upper South Island.

An independent body would be set up to co-ordinate and administer the allocation of donations collected by the appeal, the National Emergency Operations Centre said tonight.

People could make an automatic donation of $20 by phoning 0900 33 200, post donations to Freepost Red Cross, PO Box 12-140, Wellington, or donate online through the Red Cross website.

"Now, it is time to help fellow New Zealanders in need," NZ Red Cross director general Flora Gilkison said in a statement.

Funds raised would go to projects nominated by mayoral relief funds and the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.

Both the National Bank and the ANZ Bank had donated $50,000 each to the appeal and branches were accepting donations for the Red Cross appeal, Ms Gilkison said.

Bank of New Zealand said tonight it had donated $25,000 to the Manawatu district relief fund.

Meanwhile, Southland's local body leaders said $20,000 would be donated to North Island flood victims from the Southland Flood Relief Fund.

Mayors Frana Cardno, Owen O'Connor, Tim Shadbolt and Environment Southland chairman Ted Loose urged Southlanders to make donations to the cause.

"The Southland donation recognises the generosity of New Zealanders who raised several million dollars for flood relief when Southland was devastated by floods in 1984," Ms Cardo said.

In South Taranaki's Waitotara, a public radio appeal in conjunction with a local trucking company and the TSB bank had resulted in a truck-load of goods donated today, with two more truck loads expected on Tuesday, Civil Defence said.

Volunteers working at the Waverley town hall were sorting and distributing the goods for evacuated and stranded residents of Waitotara township and Waitotara Valley.

The Lions Clubs International Foundation today gave US$10,000 ($14,260) towards flood relief, following an application from Lions clubs in some of the worst affected areas.

The grant would be added to contributions from local Lions from more than 50 clubs in the Manawatu, Wanganui and Rangitikei districts, a statement said.

Farmers Trading Company Ltd said that over the next three days, Farmers customers would be asked to add a gold coin or more to their purchase total.

"This money will be donated to the company's flood victim support appeal," a statement said.

Farmers would make a company cash donation of up to $30,000.

- NZPA

To make a donation to the Red Cross flood appeal

Phone: To make an automatic donation of $20 call 0900 33 200

Post: donations to Freepost Red Cross, PO Box 12-140, Wellington

Online: Red Cross website