WELLINGTON, April 4 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Civil Defense Minister Rick Barker said Wednesday civil defense expertise has been sent to help in the aftermath of the recent earthquake and tsunami in the Solomon Islands.

    The move followed a request from the Solomon Islands Government, and a United Nations Disaster and Assessment Coordination (UNDAC) team comprising disaster management professionals is being deployed to the Solomon Islands, said Barker.

    The New Zealand Government has already announced that it is making an initial 500,000 NZ dollars (350,000 U.S. dollars) contribution to the Solomon Islands and is providing humanitarian supplies.

    An Hercules loaded with emergency supplies, including tarpaulins, blankets and water containers, as well as food and utensil kits and hurricane lamps from the New Zealand Red Cross, has arrived at Honiara for emergency assistance.