New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Phil Goff has announced that New Zealand would be donating 500,000 NZ dollars (about US$355,000) to the Red Cross for aid for tsunami-hit nations in South and Southeast Asia.
New Zealand Press Association Tuesday quoted Goff as saying that the New Zealand Red Cross was sending a delegate up to Colombo, who has expertise in damage assessment.
"They will make a decision as to what the likely distribution of that support is," he said.
Goff said it was also possible his ministry would provide assistance through its bilateral aid program, particularly in regard to Indonesia, and through the Asian regional program. The money would be paid to the International Red Cross through the local Red Cross, he added.
Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Chandrika Kumaran earlier said the New Zealand government had already offered assistance to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs.
The NZ Red Cross announced Monday afternoon it was giving 60, 000 NZ dollars (about US$42,600) immediately to assist Red Cross societies in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
Meanwhile, a New Zealand Air Force plane has been sent to help with the relief efforts in Asia following the series of tsunami which has killed more than 23,000 people.
The Hercules C130 has left Whenuapai Air Base and will first travel to Darwin, Australia, to pick up emergency aid supplies.
Defence Minister Mark Burton said the plane would co-ordinate with the Australian Defence Force in regional disaster relief efforts as required.