WELLINGTON, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Four New Zealanders are missing after a tsunami hit the Solomon Islands Monday wiping out entire villages, said New Zealand media.

    Stuff, a local news service, said Tuesday the four have not been in contact since a huge earthquake triggered the tsunami which struck outlying islands in the impoverished South Pacific state, killing at least 15 people.

    New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said although four were missing, that did not mean they were dead.

    One of the missing New Zealanders is believed to be a New Zealand Volunteer Service Abroad marine scientist.

    He was reported to have been last seen on Friday when he went on a survey.

    A decision on what New Zealand aid to send to the islands may be made Tuesday. Aid agencies and others organizations were meeting to discuss the country's response to the emergency.

    New Zealand Defense Minister Phil Goff said a defense force plane would leave for the Solomon Islands Tuesday taking tents, tarpaulins and food for people devastated by the earthquake and tsunami.

    He said it would also carry other equipment and could possibly pick up people from Honiara to take to the stricken areas.

    Goff said he had not yet received a full briefing from the Defense Force but had been told it could assist with the deployment of equipment and supplies to the affected area.