The Government should act immediately to help with earthquake relief efforts in Nepal, Labour's Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Shearer says.

'The Nepalese Government is appealing for international assistance following yesterday's massive quake. The full impact is only now being realised and there are growing reports of outlying villages that have suffered badly.

'New Zealand needs to swing into action now.

'We have strong and close links to the Nepalese people through Sir Ed Hilary and his legacy of support to Nepalese communities. But we also have first-hand experience and expertise in providing practical and logistical assistance in earthquake relief.

'Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. This is a tragedy on a massive scale and we cannot sit back and watch from the side-lines.

'The Government should be mobilising what we can to act immediately,” David Shearer says.