Two New Zealand children are confirmed to have died in Wednesday's Samoan tsunamis and a third is missing, presumed dead.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade this afternoon said two adult New Zealanders had also died as walls of water swamped the island nation: Raglan woman Mary Ann White and an unidentified person.
"Grave concerns" were held for Matamata sisters Petria and Rebecca Martin, who were staying at Taufua Lodge resort in Lalomanu, the worst-hit area.
Also staying at the resort was two-year-old Auckland toddler Alfie Cunliffe, who is missing and believed to have died when he was swept out to sea as the tsunami hit.
The toddler and his parents, Gary and Jill, were holidaying at the resort. Mr Cunliffe was also carried out to sea, but survived by clinging to the coral reef, the New Zealand Herald reported. He was swept back in with the second wave and was treated in hospital for internal injuries.
South Auckland woman Tauaavaga Tupuola -- the 84-year-old grandmother of Kiwis rugby league star Matt Utai -- was swept to her death with her granddaughter, Bula Okei, 28, and three-year-old great-granddaughter Sima, The Dominion Post reported today.
Mrs Tupuola was visiting family at the isolated southern Samoan beach of Aganoa when she died. She had surprised family with her first visit to her homeland since emigrating to New Zealand more than 30 years ago.
Hopes are also fading for Matamata sisters Petria and Rebecca Martin, who have been missing since Wednesday.
Prime Minister John Key arrived in Samoa today to see firsthand the devastation wreaked by the tsunamis.
The death toll stands at 189 -- 149 in Samoa, 31 in American Samoa and nine in Tonga. It is expected to rise further.
Mr Key arrived in Samoa aboard an air force plane this morning and would return to New Zealand tonight.
stuff.co.nz reported he had been made a chief, or "ali'i", of the devastated village of Poutasi.
The title, given as he drank kava in the village's meeting house, meant he would be known as "To'osavili Sione Key".
Mr Key also met former Manu Samoa rugby captain and Aucklander Pita Fatialofa.
"Very good to see you here, good to see New Zealand supporting Samoa," Mr Fatialofa said.
Mr Key: "We're going to do plenty of that."
The prime minister was to meet a family friend in Poutasi village before going to the hardest-hit area, Lalomanu.
He would also meet Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, before flying out.
Meanwhile, more than 250 New Zealand health professionals had volunteered to help in Samoa, Health Minister Tony Ryall said.
"We are keeping a register of skilled health professionals and co-ordinating our resources with Australia to ensure that we provide the most effective help possible in conjunction with the Samoan health service," he said.
New Zealand Defence Force medical staff were already on the ground in Samoa, a Ministry of Health liaison officer was assisting with needs assessment and three public health and environmental health staff arrived in Samoa overnight.
A surgical team would arrive in Samoa early tomorrow, boosted by four New Zealand-based, Samoan-speaking doctors and nurses.
"The timing is at the request of the Samoan authorities, so that the team will relieve some of the Australian team, and also allow local staff to take a break to be with their own families," Mr Ryall said.
"We are working closely with Australian and Samoan health authorities, as well as the New Zealand Defence Force, to put people with the right mix of skills in place in a planned and managed fashion."
The surgical team would take with it medical equipment and supplies requested by Samoa.
Medical help would be needed for weeks to come and Mr Ryall asked that health professionals able to assist phone (09) 263 1381, fax (09) 261 3396 or email Incident.Controllermiddlemore.co.nz outlining their details.
