Hollywood celebrities donate to Christchurch appeal

The devastating terror attack in Christchurch has prompted the manager of U2 and Madonna to set up a GoFundMe page to help the victims of the mosque shootings.

A-list celebrities including Madonna, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and Josh Brolin have donated thousands to a fundraiser for the Kiwi terror attack victims.

The GoFundMe page has reached US$88,000 ($130,000) of its US$100,000 goal after being set up by Guy Oseary, the manager for Madonna and the band U2, who pledged US$18,000 ($26,000).

'Christchurch Mosques Fundraiser' - https://t.co/Yml453msLh via @gofundme

— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) March 17, 2019

Actor Stiller, filmmaker Judd Apatow and actor Ashton Kutcher each pledged US$1000 ($1460).

Other donations came from Madonna, who pledged US$10,000 ($14,600), and comedian Rock gave US$5000 ($7300).

Directors Judd Apatow and Ava DuVernay, author Tiffanie DeBartolo and Hollywood star Josh Brolin and family also donated.

Oseary wrote on the page: "I read the frightening details and could barely find the strength to watch a short clip of the disturbing footage. My heart breaks for the victims and for their families…

"We will work with GoFundMe to ensure all funds are transferred to an organisation providing support to the families and community.

"We will provide additional information about the distribution of funds as soon as it becomes available and are actively researching the best organisations in New Zealand to receive what is raised."

Guy Oseary created a GoFundMe to support the families following the attack in New Zealand. @GoFundMe is working with Oseary to transfer the money directly to the organization providing support to the families and community.https://t.co/KurAcGzIAI

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) March 16, 2019

Meanwhile, more than $7 million has now been raised online in New Zealand for victims of the terror attack.

About 70,000 donors flocked to one Givalittle page alone, raising more than $5.5 million for the victims and families of Friday's attack in which a gunman killed 50 people at two Christchurch mosques and injured many others.

The page started by the non-profit Victim Support group set a new Givealittle record by raising $3.5m within its first 24 hours.

A separate LaunchGood fundraising page managed by the NZ Islamic Information Centre had also collected more than $2m.

Elsewhere, New Zealand's banking industry donated a further $1m to a new fund set up at the request of Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel.