The first container loads of urgent tsunami relief have reached villagers in Samoa, says the Samoa Tsunami 2009 Appeal Charitable Trust.
Ten containers of supplies were filled in three days when two collection centres were opened in Auckland by the appeal organisers.
These were loaded aboard the HMNZS Canterbury which sailed a day later and has since arrived in Apia.
Four containers from this first consignment have reached villages on the south-east coast, which were the worst affected by the tsunami. The remaining eight containers will be distributed over the next few days.
A second shipment of 14 containers left Auckland this weekend and is due to arrive in Apia in a week.
Among the supplies destined for Apia were 540 fale poles, telephone poles, plumbing and electrical equipment and water piping requested by the Samoan Government.
The ship also carried 13 containers of aid donated by the New Zealand Samoan community.
The Samoa Tsunami 2009 Appeal Charitable Trust is headed by Samoa's Consul General in Auckland, and works closely with Samoa's National Disaster Relief Council, chaired by the Prime Minister.
NZPA