Members of Parliament are working alongside members of the public as a massive international relief effort gets under way in the islands of Samoa and Tonga.
The New Zealand Government has pledged an initial $1 million in aid and Prime Minister John Key is returning early from holiday in the United States.
He will fly to Samoa with Foreign Minister Murray McCully tomorrow.
The unofficial death toll from Wednesday's devastating earthquake and series of tsunamis stood at almost 150 last night.
Many of those killed were elderly, or children too weak or slow to run for the hills.
Walls shook and objects smashed when the 8.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of American Samoa at 6.48am on Wednesday (NZT).
It lasted for about a minute and islanders watched as waves broke beyond the reef, heralding the approach of a tsunami, which struck about 10 minutes later.
Witnesses reported a wall of water up to 9m in the wake of the quake.
Waves pounded the shore for the next 20 minutes, wiping out whole villages.
Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said he was "shocked beyond belief" by the devastation.
The lucky ones made it to high ground, some held on for their lives, others had loved ones wrenched from their arms.
One mother watched as her three children were swept away.
An estimated 3000 people are homeless and seeking refuge in shelters set up around the worst-affected villages.
Most of the 20 villages on the southern side of the main Samoan island of Upolu have been levelled.
Two of Upolu's most popular resorts, Sinalei Reef Resort and Coconuts Beach Resort, were hit hard.
Joe Annandale, owner of the Sinalei Resort and regional mayor of the ravaged south coast, lost his wife Tui.
Her body was found washed up in a tree after she tried to help some children.
At least 22 were reported dead in American Samoa yesterday, seven were confirmed dead in Tonga and the toll was expected to rise.
Yesterday, dozens of people combed debris, sludge and rubble looking for bodies and beginning the massive clean-up.
Fuimaono Rosalia, who lives in the devastated southern village of Lalomanu on Upolu, was digging a grave for her 97-year-old uncle, one of 13 family members killed.
"They were hopping into the vehicle when the wave hit them," she said.
"All of a sudden, they saw a wave... Some of the dads tried to grab the children, but the wave was too strong for them."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed two New Zealanders were killed and one is missing, presumed dead.
The Australian Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had been advised a 2-year-old girl - New Zealand born, but an Australian citizen - was also among the fatalities.
Raglan mother-of-three Mary Ann White (55) was holidaying with husband Andy and friends Brent and Diane Cederman and was killed.
Her daughter, Jo Thomas (26), said the group was on day four of a 14-day Samoan holiday, staying in beach fales.
She received official word of her mother's death from the New Zealand High Commission on Wednesday night.
The first relief flight from New Zealand arrived in Samoa about 9am yesterday when an air force Hercules touched down carrying aid workers, medical supplies, and other basic items - including food, water and shelter and humanitarian aid workers.
More supplies, including 50 tents, 1000 blankets and 500 kitchen sets, were expected to follow on a commercial flight to Samoa yesterday.
A New Zealand Air Force Orion, in the islands since Wednesday, continued searching for missing people, as well as providing help to authorities struggling to determine the scope of the disaster and provide help where it is most needed.
New Zealanders rushed to help - with donations, free phone calls and air travel - after aid agencies asked for money, not goods or food.
At least four appeals have been launched - by Red Cross through Westpac Bank branches, ANZ Bank branches, the Catholic aid agency Caritas and Oxfam.
Air New Zealand has added an additional flight from Auckland to Samoa, and all three mobile phone networks are offering free or discounted calls to Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga for up to two weeks.
- The New Zealand Herald/Waikato Times
