Give money, not goods or food, is the plea from aid agencies coordinating an international response to the earthquake and tsunami which devastated Samoa yesterday.
Three appeals have been launched, one by Red Cross through Westpac Bank branches, one at branches of the ANZ Bank and the other through the
Catholic aid agency Caritas.
Offers of help have also been pouring in to aid agencies.
Meg Poutasi from the Wellington-based charitable trust, the Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF), said it was still not precisely clear what was needed by the Samoan government and it was important people did not donate goods which would be difficult to use.
"Why send cans if no one can find a can opener?" she said.
"We are not sending things over that cannot be of use."
She said tsunamis would have a significant effect on New Zealand Samoans, as many would be connected or related to those affected by the tragedy.
"We have grave concerns for the people of Samoa."
The ANZ Bank announced today it had doubled its initial donation of $A50,000 ($NZ61,827).
ANZ retail managing director Wayne Besant said a large number of Samoan people lived in New Zealand.
The first relief flight from New Zealand arrived shortly after 9am today when an air force Hercules touched down at the Samoan airport with aid workers, medical supplies, and other basic items , including food, water and shelter and humanitarian aid workers.
More relief supplies, including 50 tents, 1000 blankets and 500 kitchen sets, were to be loaded onto a commercial flight for Samoa later today.
The Red Cross said it could accept money only and said offers of clothing, goods or assistance "are not immediately helpful in this disaster situation".
The Catholic aid agency Caritas opened its relief appeal with a pledge of $25,000.
Caritas said it was ironic that last week Caritas staff were in Samoa for an exercise involving a tsunami hitting the south coast.
Caritas New Zealand director Michael Smith said his Samoan colleagues had also run workshops on disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness.
Caritas Samoa director Puletini Tuala said the destruction he saw was "appalling".
- NZPA
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 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
Oxfam
- Make a secure online donation at oxfam.org.nz
- Phone 0800 400 666 or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900 600 20