Media release from Waikato District Health Board

The nine-strong Waikato Hospital medical team arrived in Samoa today on an RNZ Air Force flight with two Zealand based Samoan-speaking doctors and two Samoan-speaking nurses and were briefed an hour ago by an Australian medical team.

They've been told they'll have a full theatre schedule starting early tomorrow.

Theatre nurse Debbie Ratima said there's a lot of broken bones and lacerations to operate on plus there's the prospect of even more patients presenting during the day as Samoans come down from the hills where they've sheltered for several days since the tsunami last week.

"We're tired and weary after our journey, we'll get a good night's sleep and then we're ready to do whatever we need to do to help," she said.

The flight from Whenuapai to Samoa early today took nearly four hours.

The team arrived to 30 degree temperatures.

"Everyone's ready to go. This is such a mission. It's bloody hot but all we want to do is get on with it and do what we can to help. "We've got a great team. We know each other. We know what we're capable of. We've got the right personalities together. I'm glad I'm here with people I know and trust."

Mrs Ratima, a theatre nurse and educator, was to be on leave this week spending time with husband Russell and children Jade, 14, and Sam, 8.

"They're alright. The kids are being looked after. They support me."

Waikato Hospital provided two surgeons, two anesthetists, three theatre nurses and two recovery nurses.