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A team of Army medics is scheduled to fly to Samoa today to join a civilian medical team that left New Zealand on an Air Force Hercules late last night as the death toll from the tsunami rises.
Temporary morgue facilities, tents, stretchers and medical and food supplies were also
on the flight at the request of the Samoan Government.
Several police officers skilled in body identification went too.
Samoa also requested the use of a helicopter but New Zealand was trying to get Australian or French assistance on that front.
Acting Prime Minister Bill English said New Zealand was ready to do all it could to help deal with the unfolding disaster in Samoa both immediately and in the long term.
He had contacted his own Samoan relatives yesterday afternoon - his wife, Mary, is Samoan - and they were safe.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully said difficulties with internet communications yesterday between New Zealand and the High Commission had complicated the job of matching lists.
Mr McCully liaised with Samoan and Tongan ministers yesterday while Mr English flew north from Dipton, in his Clutha-Southland electorate, back to Wellington.
"A C130 Hercules is also on standby to carry emergency supplies to Samoa if needed," Mr McCully said.
Prime Minister John Key, who is holidaying in Florida, spoke yesterday afternoon to Samoan Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi Tuilaepa, who was in Auckland on his way back from the United Nations in New York.
Mr English said Mr Key had conveyed New Zealand's sympathy for the loss of life and had offered all assistance New Zealand could give. That assistance would be both short-term, to deal with the tsunami's immediate effects, "but also in the longer term with the task of providing shelter where people have lost their homes and the rebuilding of infrastructure".
Australia and the United States also made immediate pledges of assistance to the Samoan islands.
US President Barack Obama declared a major disaster in American Samoa. The White House said he had "ordered federal aid to supplement territory and local recovery efforts".
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Australia stood ready to assist Samoa. "We see our friends in Samoa as part of our Pacific family."
Two military aircraft were on standby in Sydney awaiting final confirmation from Samoan authorities, and Mr Rudd said Canberra stood ready to provide "all forms of practical assistance in dealing with the aftermath of this natural disaster".
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency also sent two emergency teams to the region and pre-positioned supplies in Hawaii that could be used for emergency response.
Australia's parliamentary secretary for aid, Bob McMullan, said Canberra would lead a joint Pacific relief response with France and New Zealand on behalf of the world community.
He said the details were yet to be finalised but he expected the response would focus on medical and search and rescue efforts.
Temporary shelters and water purification equipment would also be a priority, Mr McMullan said, adding that he expected supplies and personnel to leave for Samoa before nightfall.
He also flagged possible assistance to Tonga, once the situation there had been assessed.
- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: AGENCIES
How you can help
Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Deposits can be made at at any Westpac branch. All the money raised will go to the Samoan Government
Red Cross
- Make a secure online donation at www.redcross.org.nz
- Send cheques to the Samoan Red Cross Fund, PO Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144
- Call 0900 31 100 to make an automatic $20 donation
- Make a donation at any NZ Red Cross office
ANZ bank
Make a donation at any ANZ bank branch, or donate directly to the ANZ appeal account: 01 1839 0143546 00
