The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade this afternoon confirmed 230 New Zealanders were safe while another 40 remained unaccounted for following the weekend's devastating earthquake in Chile, that has so far left more than 700 dead.
There have been no reports of New Zealanders amongst the casualties.
A spokesman said that communication networks in Chile were improving but remain disrupted, hampering the ministry's ability to contact New Zealanders.
"To allow the ministry to focus on contacting those in the affected area we ask that people who have reported concerns for New Zealanders, and have since heard they are safe, to tell us."
Family and friends who had concerns about loved ones in the affected area should try to make contact with the ministry in the first instance, the spokesman said.
The ministry advised against all tourist and non-essential travel to Chile until the situation became clearer.
"Those who still decide to continue plans to travel to Chile should contact their travel agent as their travel plans may have been disrupted by the earthquake."
People in Chile, or about to travel to Chile, were asked to register on www.safetravel.govt.nz.
Prime Minister John Key said he had passed New Zealand's condolences to the President of Chile, Michelle Bachele, and to the people of Chile.
"We have also made it clear that once they've had an opportunity to access the damage New Zealand would be willing to help and give support where required.
"Initial indications are it is unlikely that Chile will be asking for significant international support but we will do something as required."
The 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Concepcion, Chile's second largest city, at 7.34pm (NZT) on Saturday, and sparked a tsunami alert across the Pacific.
The Latin America New Zealand Business Council (LANZBC) chairman Chris Hawley expressed his "deepest concern and sympathies" to those affected by the quake.
"First and foremost, our thoughts are with the millions of Chileans affected by this tragedy," Mr Hawley said. "Their daily lives will doubtless be affected for a long time to come".
The LANZBC fosters New Zealand business links with Latin America, and many of its members had strong personal and commercial ties with Chile.
"Thus our thoughts are also with Chile-based New Zealanders and their local staff," Mr Hawley said. "We are relieved that, so far, there are no reports of New Zealand casualties or major damage to New Zealand-owned businesses."
Among New Zealanders caught up in the quake were Sean and Rose Hallissey who were convinced they were about to die.
The Auckland couple was staying in an apartment in Providencia, Santiago, on an extended holiday when the quake hit.
"Rose noticed a noise and it built from there. We could feel this rumble. Doors began falling open, glasses began breaking and we could feel this rumbling," Mr Hallissey told NZPA.
He said the tile floor was moving.
"You could see shock waves rippling across the floor. I have been in one or two earthquakes at home but nothing in comparison to this.
"It was a very intense couple of minutes and I have to be honest and say we were very scared." They went to the strongest part of the apartment and huddled under a large beam.
"My wife said it out loud, 'I don't want to die' and I prayed at a rate of knots and very loudly for the whole time. I have never been through anything as intense in my life. It was really, really scary."
A Motueka couple who were backpacking around Chile said they were thrown around "like toys" as the quake struck.
In an email today to concerned family and friends, Emma Ryder, 29, and her partner Jacob Lucas, 30, said the highway they were on at the time "looked a bit like the sea", the Nelson Mail reported.
The couple said they were lucky to be travelling on a bus between the capital Santiago and the epicentre at Concepcion, and were away from falling buildings at the time.
