Prime Minister John Key has offered Pacific nations help dealing with swine flu - even if it means giving away New Zealand's tamiflu stock.
On day two of his tour of the Pacific, Mr Key met Samoan head of state Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi.
New Zealand would "enhance" its aid programme to Samoa and increase development assistance, Mr Key said.
Aid would go from $10.5 million to $14 million this year, to $15m in 2009/10 and $17m in 2011/12, Mr Key said.
The development assistance would focus on education, health (including swine flu defence), public service improvement and private sector development, Mr Key said.
He said assistance with swine flu could include giving Pacific nations tamiflu from New Zealand stocks, TV One news reported.
The population in the Pacific is small enough that New Zealanders would not miss out on the drug, Mr Key said.
"The current global economic crisis, inflation, and increasing unemployment also require us to consider new ways of delivering assistance where it is most needed," he said.
New Zealand and Australia will provide help to Samoan families struggling to pay school fees. New Zealand will contribute $1m.
Mr Key also signed a Visiting Forces Agreement with Samoa allowing New Zealand Defence Force participation in relevant exercises in Samoa.
Yesterday, Mr Key announced the Government would increase official development assistance to Tonga by $4m to $16m this year and up to $18m in the 2011/12 financial year.
He will visit Niue and the Cook Islands on the last two days of his four-day visit.
