Phone lines between New Zealand and Samoa have been overloaded as worried people take advantage of free calls to check on friends and relatives in the disaster-hit South Pacific.
The combined death toll from Wednesday's powerful tsunami which hit Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga following a 8.0 magnitude quake is at least 165.
2Degrees, Telecom and Vodafone have offered free calls to Samoa since Thursday but say the phone lines are now saturated.
Telecom, which runs the lines, says they are working at several thousand percent above their normal usage. It says there are no faults on the line so people should keep trying.
The companies say people should try to keep their calls short so everyone can get through.
Holidays to Samoa cancelled
Travel agents say New Zealanders with plans to holiday in Samoa are choosing not to go.
A spokesperson for House of Travel says 50% of its clients booked to visit Samoa have chosen to holiday in other destinations, while the other half have delayed their trips.
Jo Wedlock says there has not been a rush of holidaymakers trying to leave Samoa, as some are helping with the relief effort.
Ms Wedlock says in light of the disaster, airlines are not charging passengers to change their holiday destinations.
