Councils in Hawke's Bay have set up a $225,000 fund to help the relief effort in Canterbury.
The Hastings, Napier and Hawke's Bay regional councils have contributed $200,000 and Port of Napier has put in $25,000.
Power lines company Unison Network is considering technical or financial assistance.
Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule says Saturday's earthquake was the worst in terms of property damage since the Hawke's Bay earthquake in 1931 when the rest of New Zealand rallied around people in Napier, Hastings and Wairoa.
Mr Yule says Hastings Council has offered to send building inspectors, engineers and civil defence staff to Christchurch to help out.
Northland councils are offering to send staff to Christchurch, to help in the recovery from Saturday's earthquake.
Meanwhile, the mayors of Whangarei and the Far North say engineers, building inspectors and staff skilled in disaster recovery will be sent south if needed.
Whangarei Mayor Stan Semenoff has also made a donation of $10,000 from his mayoral relief fund to help earthquake victims.
Mr Semenoff says Northland has had support from other New Zealanders in times of disaster such as the 2007 floods, and wants to return the generosity.
Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby says he has contacted his counterpart in Christchurch to offer assistance.
Mr Crosby says people should back the Christchurch Mayoral Relief Fund, rather than causing logistical problems by sending blankets or food.
The Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management Group has already offered its recovery manager. Terry Wynyard co-ordinated the three-year response for Tauranga, following the floods of May 2005.
