Dogs join NZ bushfire team

New Zealand's assistance to Australia in the wake of the country's most devastating bushfires has been boosted by four victim recovery dogs.

The dogs and their handlers will fly to Melbourne tomorrow with a team of 52 rural firefighters on a Defence Force Boeing 757 from Auckland.

The german shepherds are trained to locate victims above and below ground and amongst wreckage.

Police said their role was particularly suited to situations where significant loss of life might have occurred over a wide area. MORE>>