New Zealand's top fundraisers say they have done as well, if not better, despite the recession.
World Vision says it has had its two best years ever during the recession. This year, it raised $60 million, slightly down on the record of $61 million in 2009.
World Vision chief executive Chris Clarke says the sums were unexpected and the impressive fact is that most of the money comes from ordinary New Zealanders - not big corporates.
United Nations children's agency UNICEF says donations for the 2009-10 year were up about 10% on the previous year, which has been the continuous trend over the last decade.
New Zealand director Dennis McKinlay says when people can identify with, or at least understand the nature of a disaster, they are always generous.
The Starship Foundation says when it ran out of ventilators for the intensive care ward during winter, the response to its public plea for funding allowed it to buy two ventilators worth several hundred thousand dollars.
New Zealanders and Australians are jointly the world's most generous people, according to the Gallup World Giving Index for 2010.
