Ten New Zealand nurses are heading to Pakistan to join a multinational medical force helping earthquake survivors.

Last month's quake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, killed up to 79,000 people and has left almost three million homeless, facing the approaching Himalayan winter.

The nurses from all over the country will be based at a Red Cross Hospital in Abbottabad, in the North West Frontier province, where the focus is on preventing the spread of infection and disease.

They will spend up to six months in the region.

The costs are being underwritten by the Government's $1.5 million contribution to the earthquake relief.