A long-term Australian resident of New Zealand origin appears to have died in the Christchurch earthquake, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.
Details of the man's death were sketchy, she said.
"We are still working through the details," Ms Gillard told reporters in Canberra.
"But it appears this person was a family man and our condolences go to his family who would be struggling with this news."
The man was assisted by a passer-by in the last hours of his life, Ms Gillard said.
"Our thanks would go to that stranger and I think that's an emblem of the kind of spirit that we see in Christchurch as people get together to help each other."
Ms Gillard said she was sure many Australians had watched with a great deal of admiration as they saw New Zealanders get on with the task of search and rescue.
"We are still working through to confirm that Australians are safe," she said, adding the whereabouts of 417 had been confirmed.
"We are still seeking to confirm the status of 1094."
Ms Gillard asked Australians wanting to obtain details about family and friends to exercise patience during search and rescue operations.
Qantas and Air New Zealand have arranged additional flights from Christchurch when the city's airport reopens to international traffic later on Wednesday.
"Our consular team will be assisting people to make arrangements to travel from Christchurch and return home," Ms Gillard said.
The Australian government is deploying various forms of assistance:
* 36 NSW Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) staff arrived in New Zealand early on Wednesday morning.
* 34 more NSW USAR staff are expected to travel to New Zealand by military aircraft later on Wednesday morning along with two Emergency Management Australia staff.
* 70 Queensland USAR staff will also travel to Christchurch on Wednesday.
* An Australian Medical Assistance Team is also expected to deploy on Wednesday.
New Zealand also has asked for assistance from the NSW Police to help relieve "hard-pressed" local forces.
"We will be doing everything we can to work with our New Zealand family," Ms Gillard said.
"We will be working alongside them to give them as much relief and assistance as we possibly can."
It was likely that NZ would request the Australian Federal Police to assist with victim identification.
"We may get requests for practical assistance like water purification, the ability to provide tents and habitat to people who need to be sheltered," Ms Gillard said.
Australia also would respond to requests for medical evacuations.
Ms Gillard said she expected to speak to NZ Prime Minister John Key later on Wednesday.
"My message to prime minister Key is please ask, we'll do everything we can," Ms Gillard said.
Federal MPs arriving at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday offered their condolences to the people of Christchurch.
Australians were "hoping and praying" for miracles, Nationals MP Darren Chester said.
"We know there's people trapped in the rubble and we're hoping as many as possible can be retrieved," he told reporters.
Labor backbencher Michelle Rowland says it was possible people from her western-Sydney electorate of Greenway are in Christchurch.
"At any given point in time, I think we all have friends and family in New Zealand."
Labor MP Rob Mitchell, whose Victorian electorate of McEwan was devastated by the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, sympathised with those involved in the unfolding tragedy.
The images streaming out of Christchurch "really shock you to the bone," he said.
"We've got our fingers crossed that we will get people pulled out safely".
Liberal MP Bob Baldwin said the coalition fully supported the federal government's efforts.
"When the chips are down New Zealanders stand with Australia, and also the Australians stand with the New Zealanders."
Liberal MP Dennis Jensen offered his thoughts in "this time of trial."
