The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade reports some progress in accounting for New Zealanders in the area hit by the Boxing Day quake and tsunami even as the country's relief operation gets fully underway.

According to MFAT figures released today, two New Zealanders are confirmed dead and 7 are in hospital out of 3,149 in the affected areas.

Of all New Zealanders in the affected areas, 2,024 were confirmed aliive and well, leaving 1,125 unaccounted for.

In Thailand, of 903 New Zealanders on MFAT's records, 619 are confirmed alive and well. Both deaths so far confirmed were Thailand-based and 252 New Zealanders remain unaccounted for but thought to have been outside the affected regions of the country.

The number of New Zealanders about which MFAT has particular concern has shrunk to 23 overnight.

MFAT requests that those who have since heard from New Zealanders in the affected areas, and have not already done so, call the Red Cross on 0800 733 276 to enable details of their being alive and well to be registered.

Another New Zealand Defence Force medical team departed for Indonesia this morning at 10:10am.

"The ANZAC Unit will provide medical services in emergency areas, such as Banda Aceh, where the population, and available medical services, have been devastated by the tsunami," the government said in a statement.