Chilean women living in Queenstown, Daniela Ibanez and Jose Goycoolea decided to raise money for earthquake victims after hearing how badly affected friends and family were back home.
"We couldn't do much from here but we wanted to do something," Ms Goycoolea said.
The pair raised about $2500 at a party at the Boiler Room this month.
They had a friend's band play for free, and film footage and photographs of Chile were projected on to the walls.
Party-goers gave generously, she said.
The women also collected nearly $700 in donations at the South American Festival at Earnslaw Park on March 12.
"It was a lot more than we were expecting.
"South American people, Kiwis, [and] tourists from all over the world gave us money.
"It was amazing," Ms Goycoolea said.
The women presented $3314 to New Zealand Red Cross service centre co-ordinator Richard Garden, of Queenstown.
Mr Garden said the money would be used to help Chile's health services, including provision of water and sanitation.
About 2500 Red Cross volunteers were working in Chile.
Since the earthquake, 30,000 people had approached the humanitarian organisation to offer assistance, he said.
