Rudd in touch with Oz miners' families

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. Photo / NZ Herald

CANBERRA - Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd says the government is doing all it can to help New Zealand authorities rescue trapped miners, including two Australians.

Townsville-born Josh Ufer, 27, and father-of-two Willy Joynson, 49, from Queensland's Fraser Coast, are among 29 miners missing following an explosion at Pike River coal mine, on New Zealand's south island, on Friday.

Mr Rudd told Sky News on Monday he had been in touch with both families.

"They are doing it very tough ... (but) they are dealing with a very difficult situation very well," Mr Rudd said.

"These families both come from Queensland, the coalmining centre of Australia, and they are in there hoping, as we all are."

Mr Rudd said a representative from Emergency Management Australia had been sent to Christchurch to be the government's eyes and ears on the ground.

There were also mine safety experts at the site itself and equipment was arriving.

"We are seeking to co-ordinate this so that our Kiwi friends know that everything that they need that we can access, given that we're just across the ditch from them, we can get there very quickly," Mr Rudd said.

- AAP