Auckland's Fijian community is rallying together to support friends and loved-ones at home.

Cyclone Winston has heavily damaged communities in the Pacific and killed at least 29 people. Nearly 14,000 people have also been displaced in 274 evacuation centres.

More than 100 people gathered in Mangere last night to raise support.

John Kotoisuva is Chair of the Mayoral Fund for the Pacific, which Auckland Mayor Len Brown has activated, and said the meeting was a vital platform for the community to give practical help, and support each other.

"The big relief for our community that they're able to do something collectively.

"Negative it may be, a natural a disaster, we can't do anything about that, but we can turn everything into a positive."

Kotoisuva said the community meeting was an important way to channel the energy of Auckland's Fijian families, who want to support loved-ones.

"Now they're able to contribute directly to their families in affected areas, and knowing that whatever they contribute will reach their families, and also the shared experience that came from other Pacific communities."

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Meanwhile, humanitarian aid workers have hit the ground running in Fiji, as the Fijian government coordinates efforts to see the nation recover.

TEAR Fund spokesman John Watson said the destruction can't be overestimated, and poor communities in the west of Fiji, where they're at work, are extremely vulnerable.

"I forgot my water bottle when I went out to one of these communities on the first day, and after four hours I was the thirstiest I can ever remember being, and these people hadn't had water for over a day by that stage."

Watson said the focus now is on providing food, as families have been surviving on small numbers of breadfruit and coconuts.

You can donate at www.tearfund.org.nz/cyclone-winston, by calling 0800 800 777 or using the Pushpay App.