A flooding-relief fund launched on the Holmes programme on Thursday night has raised over half a million dollars.
Callers have donated $574,720 by dialling 0900-511-11 to donate $10 via their Telecom account.
Telecom and Connexus have waived their fees so that 100% of donations will go to the relief funds. The line will be open until 7.30pm Friday.
The money collected will be evenly distributed to the funds set up in the affected regions and Federated Farmers.
Meanwhile, residents of the South Taranaki settlement of Waitotara should find out soon whether their homes are safe to return to.
Almost the entire town was swamped by floodwaters earlier this week, forcing residents to flee.
South Taranaki District Council spokesman, Gerard Langford, says all but two houses and the marae in Waitotara have been inspected for structural damage and contamination.
