Fiji Red Cross Society emergency response teams are supplying aid to up to 18,000 evacuees and conducting disaster assessments.

The tropical cyclone warning for Fiji has now been removed. Tomas continues to weaken and may be downgraded to a tropical storm today.

A RNZAF C-130 Hercules arrived in Fiji yesterday carrying emergency supplies.

Wellington, March 17 NZPA - The Government says it will provide assistance to cyclone-struck Fiji for as long as necessary.

"We will do whatever we have to do," Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said late this afternoon.

General

New Zealand is working closely with our partners under FRANZ - the joint France, Australia and New Zealand disaster relief arrangement - on how to best respond to the situation in Fiji.

General

Officials are closely monitoring Tropical Cyclone Tomas and Tropical Cyclone Ului as they impact on Fiji and Solomon Islands respectively.

New Zealand stands ready to respond if required.

Tropical Cyclone Tomas

Wellington, March 15 NZPA - The Government is urging New Zealanders in Fiji to register with the High Commission in Suva as the devastating Cyclone Tomas hits the islands.

Prime Minister John Key said today about 450 were registered, but there were likely to be others who had not.

New Zealand Embassy staff in Tokyo met with anti-whaling protestor Peter Bethune last night, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said today.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce will attend the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Aviation Security on 13 March 2010 in Tokyo, Japan.

New Zealand's next Ambassador to Indonesia will be career diplomat David Taylor, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said.

The Solomon Islands Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) and the New Zealand High Commission are concerned that some unlicensed people in the Solomon Islands may have been recruiting for the New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme and asking for money from potential workers.