An Air Force Boeing 757 landed at the Pacific Island today carrying police dog search teams, medical personnel and a surgical team, including Samoan-speaking doctors and nurses.
"The timing is at the request of the Samoan authorities, so that the team will relieve some of the Australian team, and also allow local staff to take a break to be with their own families," Health Minister Tony Ryall said.
"We are working closely with Australian and Samoan health authorities, as well as the New Zealand Defence Force, to put people with the right mix of skills in place in a planned and managed fashion."
The surgical team would take with it medical equipment and supplies requested by Samoa.
Their arrival will boost the numbers of New Zealand Defence Force personnel helping with the aftermath of Wednesday morning's earthquake and tsunami to 99, Radio New Zealand reported.
Medical and food supplies were also aboard.
HMNZS Canterbury was expected to sail from New Zealand on Tuesday with more aid and equipment.
Meanwhile, the Defence Force said a water purification system delivered on yesterday should be operational by today.
Yesterday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed two New Zealand children died in the tsunamis and a third was missing, presumed dead.
Two adult New Zealanders had also died as walls of water swamped the island nation: Raglan woman Mary Ann White and an unidentified person, the ministry said.
"Grave concerns" were held for Matamata sisters Petria and Rebecca Martin, who were staying at Taufua Lodge resort in Lalomanu, the worst-hit area.
Also staying at the resort was two-year-old Auckland toddler Alfie Cunliffe, who is missing and believed to have died when he was swept out to sea as the tsunami hit.
South Auckland woman Tauaavaga Tupuola -- the 84-year-old grandmother of Kiwis rugby league star Matt Utai -- was swept to her death with her granddaughter, Bula Okei, 28, and three-year-old great-granddaughter Sima, The Dominion Post reported.
The ministry was investigating this morning whether Mrs Tupuola was a New Zealand passport holder, a spokesman told NZPA today.
Hopes were also fading for Matamata sisters Petria and Rebecca Martin, who have been missing since Wednesday.
The death toll stands at 189 -- 149 in Samoa, 31 in American Samoa and nine in Tonga. It was expected to rise further.
Prime Minister John Key arrived in Samoa yesterday to see firsthand the devastation wreaked by the tsunamis.
He has since returned to New Zealand, but has promised the nation more aid to help in the disaster's aftermath.
Stuff.co.nz reported he had been made a chief, or "ali'i", of the devastated village of Poutasi.
The title, given as he drank kava in the village's meeting house, meant he would be known as "To'osavili Sione Key".
Meanwhile, more than 250 New Zealand health professionals had volunteered to help in Samoa, Mr Ryall said.
"We are keeping a register of skilled health professionals and co-ordinating our resources with Australia to ensure that we provide the most effective help possible in conjunction with the Samoan health service," he said.
New Zealand Defence Force medical staff were already on the ground in Samoa, a Ministry of Health liaison officer was assisting with needs assessment and three public health and environmental health staff arrived in Samoa overnight.
Medical help would be needed for weeks to come and Mr Ryall asked that health professionals able to assist phone (09) 263 1381, fax (09) 261 3396 or email Incident.Controllermiddlemore.co.nz outlining their details.
