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The New Zealand toll from Wednesday morning's magnitude 8.3 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Samoa has risen to five, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said today.
South Auckland grandmother Tauaavaga Tupuola, 84, and Raglan woman Mary Anne White, 54, have been named as two of those who died.
Another adult and two children also made up the toll.
A third child, two-year-old Alphie Cunliffe, was missing and presumed dead after he was swept out to sea when the tsunami hit.
MFAT said there were also "grave concerns" for Matamata sisters Petria and Rebecca Martin, who were staying at Taufua Lodge resort in Lalomanu, the worst-hit area.
Two bodies, believed to belong to the sisters, are lying side-by-side in a Samoan morgue, their identities known only informally.
Their parents flew into Apia yesterday but could not bear to see the bodies. It is not the way they wish to remember their vivacious daughters.
Instead, they will today visit the beach where the two were swept to their deaths in this week's devastating tsunami.
Rebecca, 24, was the first-year teacher of Room 16 at Rototuna Primary School in Hamilton, and Petria, 22, was team leader and lifeguard at Matamata's sports centre.
A body believed to be Petria's was found on Wednesday near the Taufua Beach Fales resort in Lalomanu where the sisters were staying with two other women. A body thought to be Rebecca's was found on Friday.
It is hoped the bodies will be identified using dental records at the Moto'otua Hospital morgue in Apia today.
Rebecca and Petria's parents Kerry and Lynne Martin were last night being comforted by New Zealand police liaison officer Ross Ardern and his wife Laurelle, at their home in the tiny village of Alafua, near Apia.
The Martins had flown to Samoa to "find some answers", as they told a local paper, and to provide DNA samples to help police identify their daughters.
Ardern said the couple did not want to go to the morgue: "They do not want to remember them that way."
Ms Tupuola - the grandmother of Kiwis rugby league star Matt Utai - was swept to her death with her granddaughter, Bula Okei, 28, and three-year-old great-granddaughter Sima, The Dominion Post reported.
The death toll stands at 189 - 149 in Samoa, 31 in American Samoa and nine in Tonga. It was expected to rise further.
All known injured New Zealanders have been brought back to New Zealand on an air force flight that arrived in the country yesterday, except for some who had chosen to remain in Apia with the support of family members, the ministry said.
The ministry was still hoping to be in touch with about 60 New Zealanders so they could confirm their safety.
New Zealanders still in Samoa were urged to make contact with friends and family in New Zealand to allay any concerns, the ministry said.
Meanwhile more New Zealand aid and specialist help has arrived at the Pacific island today.
An Air Force Boeing 757 landed at the Pacific Island today carrying police dog search teams, medical personnel and a surgical team, including Samoan-speaking doctors and nurses.
"The timing is at the request of the Samoan authorities, so that the team will relieve some of the Australian team, and also allow local staff to take a break to be with their own families," Health Minister Tony Ryall said.
"We are working closely with Australian and Samoan health authorities, as well as the New Zealand Defence Force, to put people with the right mix of skills in place in a planned and managed fashion."
The surgical team would take with it medical equipment and supplies requested by Samoa.
Their arrival will boost the numbers of New Zealand Defence Force personnel helping with the aftermath of the quake and tsunami to 99, Radio New Zealand reported.
Medical and food supplies were also aboard.
HMNZS Canterbury was expected to sail from New Zealand on Tuesday with more aid and equipment.
Meanwhile, the Defence Force said a water purification system delivered on yesterday should be operational by today.
More than 250 New Zealand health professionals had volunteered to help in Samoa, Mr Ryall said.
"We are keeping a register of skilled health professionals and co-ordinating our resources with Australia to ensure that we provide the most effective help possible in conjunction with the Samoan health service," he said.
New Zealand Defence Force medical staff were already on the ground in Samoa, a Ministry of Health liaison officer was assisting with needs assessment and three public health and environmental health staff arrived in Samoa overnight.
Medical help would be needed for weeks to come and Mr Ryall asked that health professionals able to assist phone (09) 263 1381, fax (09) 261 3396 or email Incident.Controllermiddlemore.co.nz outlining their details.
- NZPA, Alanah May Eriksen and Anna Leask
How you can help
Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Deposits can be made at at any Westpac branch. All the money raised will go to the Samoan Government
Red Cross
- Make a secure online donation at redcross.org.nz
- Send cheques to the Samoan Red Cross Fund, PO Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144
- Call 0900 31 100 to make an automatic $20 donation
- Make a donation at any NZ Red Cross office
ANZ bank
Make a donation at any ANZ bank branch, or donate directly to the ANZ appeal account: 01 1839 0143546 00
Oxfam
- Make a secure online donation at
Oxfam.org.nz
- Phone 0800 400 666 or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900 600 20
