Hon Murray McCully
Minister of Foreign Affairs

6:30pm 23 February 2011

Media update: Offers of foreign assistance

This is an update on assistance New Zealand has received from countries around the world for specialist search and rescue help following yesterday’s earthquake in Christchurch.

From Australia: A specialist search and rescue team arrived in two contingents today at 5:30am then 3:00pm. It included 72 personnel and three dogs.

A second specialist search and rescue team landed at 5:30pm.

300 police have been requested by NZ police for cordon work, and they are due to arrive on Friday 25 February.

A disaster medical assistance team of 21 personnel is anticipated to arrive later tonight. This will consist of a team leader, six emergency department doctors, six emergency department nurses, six surgical nurses, one general surgeon, and one orthopaedic surgeon.

From Taiwan: A search and rescue team of 24 personnel will arrive tonight.

From Singapore: A search and rescue team of 71 personnel are arriving at 8.30 tonight. 116 personnel who were already in New Zealand have been redeployed to Christchurch to provide general assistance and support to the NZDF.

From USA: The US DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team) of 80 personnel is due to arrive tomorrow morning at approximately 8am.

From Japan: Advance team arrived 4.00pm today. The full team of 63 people, including general-medical and rescue workers will arrive tomorrow.

From UK: The specialised search and rescue team of 63 personnel is due to arrive tomorrow.

ENDS

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