NZ sending emergency team to Queensland

New Zealand will send a Civil Defence emergency response team to Queensland to help Australia in its response to some of its worst flooding in decades, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said today.

Large parts of the coastal city of Rockhampton are under water and waters are still rising - the latest of 22 cities and towns in Queensland to be swamped by floods which started building just before Christmas.

Ten flood-related deaths have occurred in the state since late November, and officials say the flooded area covers the size of France and Germany combined.

Mr McCully said Prime Minister John Key and his Australian counterpart, Julia Gillard, had spoken and agreed that a team from New Zealand would be valuable.

"Australia has always been ready to help when New Zealand is in need, as we saw most recently during the Pike River disaster," he said.

"The New Zealand Government is pleased to be able to assist during this difficult time and we will be standing by if any further help is required."

The 10-15-strong team was expected to depart for Brisbane within 48 hours.

- NZPA