New Zealand has made an initial contribution of $150,000 to the Red Cross to support immediate aid efforts in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says New Zealand's contribution will help the Red Cross maintain emergency supply stocks and carry out impact assessments in affected areas.
Mr McCully says Typhoon Haiyan was one of the largest storms on record and has had a major impact on the Philippines, a country that has recently been hit by successive natural disasters.
He says New Zealand will consider further support as the full extent of the damage becomes clear.
The Australian government is to provide more than $A390,000 in initial emergency relief supplies.
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop says two Australian disaster experts are already there assisting the Philippine government to conduct a rapid needs assessment in the worst affected areas.
The ABC reports World Vision is assisting rescue efforts despite 37 of its staff there losing their homes.
Kate Rose from World Vision's emergency response team says it's trying to reach 1.2 million displaced people to give them shelter and kits containing food and clean water.
She says it is also ready to act in Vietnam and Laos, which are in the path of the typhoon.
NZ agencies readying
UNICEF says it believes 1.7 million children in the Philippines could be directly affected by typhoon Haiyan.
UNICEF New Zealand executive director Dennis McKinlay says it has teams on the ground and is sending more from around around the globe to help in the emergency response.
He says as in any natural disaster, children are among those who suffer the most.
Mr McKinlay says it is sending supplies, such as health kits and water carriers to affected areas.
A fundraising campaign will start on Monday.
The New Zealand Red Cross says it has already committed $500,000 to help those affected and officers are on stand-by to send personnel to Tacloban.
