NZ open to sending police to Haiti - PM

John Key. Photo / Mark Mitchell

New Zealand would be open to sending police to help in Haiti if asked to, Prime Minister John Key says.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has requested 3500 extra troops and police amid scenes of lawlessness in quake-hit Haiti.

Mr Ban requested that the UN mission, known as MINUSTAH, be considerably beefed up with 2000 more troops, bringing the number there to 8940, and 1500 more UN police taking that total to 3711.

Mr Key said that New Zealand would consider any request.

"We made a pledge to (United States Secretary of State) Hillary Clinton that we were more than happy to supply specialised staff if and when required. At this point the advice I've had from the Minister of Foreign Affairs is that there's been no take up of that offer, but if required New Zealand would be prepared to provide specialist support including police."

New Zealand has pledged $1 million in aid.

"We are monitoring that situation to make sure that our commitments are in line with expectations I believe that New Zealanders would have of the Government. At this point I think we are in about the right place," Mr Key said.

International reports said the additional UN troops would be used to build humanitarian corridors to link the capital Port-au-Prince with the neighbouring Dominican Republic and a northern Haitian port.

The Haitian capital's main port was heavily damaged in Tuesday's 7.0 quake and will require weeks if not months of repairs.

The extra MINUSTAH troops would also serve as a reserve force should law and order further deteriorate.

Extra police would include forensic experts and prison officers, including more than 100 to deal with 4000 detainees who escaped.

Their mission would generally be to back up the Haitian police.

- NZPA