The New Zealand Government says a joint airlift operation has begun to assist the drought-stricken Pacific nation of Tuvalu.
A series of Air Force flights from New Zealand and Australia will deliver a large New Zealand Army desalination unit to the Funafuti atoll.
Earlier this week, the New Zealand Air Force provided smaller desalination units, but more capacity is needed to relieve the acute water shortage and to replenish stocks, Radio New Zealand International reports.
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says at present, the two operating desalination plants at Funafuti are producing a combined volume of 43,000 litres a day.
But the more than 5000 residents need nearly 80,000 litres a day.
Mr McCully says the Army desalination equipment should provide a sufficient buffer if the dry period continues, as expected.
Water on way to Tokelau
A United States Coastguard vessel with more than 100,000 litres of fresh water has left American Samoa on Friday morning bound for Tokelau.
Coastguard lieutenant Steven Caskey says the trip will take 27 hours.
Onboard the vessel Walnut is fresh water for Tokelau residents, along with seven officials from the New Zealand Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Defence Force.
The New Zealand Government delegation arrived in Pago Pago late on Thursday.
Below normal rainfall forecast
The latest Pacific climate update says much of the region can expect below normal rainfall over the next three months.
The update is from a group of organisations including New Zealand's Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.
They say Tuvalu, Tokelau, the Tuamotu archipelago in French Polynesia, Samoa, Pitcairn, Western Kiribati and the northern Cook Islands can expect lower rainfall through to mid-summer.
Forecasters say higher rain levels are anticipated in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and Niue.
