New Zealanders donate $8.5m to tsunami relief

New Zealanders have contributed $8.5 million in donations to the tsunami recovery effort in the past fortnight.

The way the public has rallied to help the millions left homeless by the largest humanitarian disaster in decades may prompt the Government to increase its official $10 million contribution.

The $8.5 million raised so far - which represents $2 from every man, woman and child in the country - is believed to be the single largest international relief campaign by New Zealanders.

The tally has risen at a rate of $1 million a day since Thursday.

"The speed with which the donations have come in and the size of them has been phenomenal," said Anna Sussmilch of Catholic aid agency Caritas, which has raised $317,000.

The collections have nearly matched the official Government response of $10 million in aid and defence assistance, which includes $5 million in dollar-for-dollar matching of public fundraising.

Cabinet is now set to consider increasing the Government's contribution next week, after the Prime Minister signalled the $10 million pledged thus far was only the tip of the iceberg.

The Red Cross, Oxfam, and Protestant charity Christian World Service have all topped previous best collections, with $4.5 million, $750,000, and $250,000 respectively.

"New Zealanders can feel proud of the way they have responded to the incredible need in South Asia following the tsunami," said Christine Langdon of the Red Cross.

World Vision has raised $1.1 million and APN NZ - publisher of the Herald and Herald On Sunday - has collected more than $640,000 from more than 16,000 donors.

The level of public donations had been "tremendous" said Mahinda Attanayake, president of the United Sri Lanka Association, which has raised $35,000.

Corporations have also joined in the charity work, with the TAB announcing that all proceeds from betting on tomorrow's World Cricket Tsunami appeal charity match in Melbourne would go the Red Cross appeal.

However, the spirit of generosity seems to have eluded some people.

A 35-year-old Tauranga security guard was arrested yesterday, accused of stealing donations for tsunami victims from a locked cupboard at Tauranga Hospital.

A woman was also arrested in Kaitaia yesterday and charged with burglary for allegedly stealing around $250 in tsunami donations from a Mad Butcher shop in Orewa, north of Auckland. She will appear in the North Shore district court next week.

A similar theft was reported at a Christchurch Mad Butcher store and Christchurch police were also investigating reports of two bogus Red Cross collectors soliciting donations door-to-door.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY