China will provide humanitarian aid to New Zealand to help disaster relief in the earthquake-hit areas, China's Ministry of Commerce said Monday.

The Chinese government will offer 500,000 U.S. dollars in cash payment to help the disaster relief in New Zealand, the ministry said in a brief statement on its website. It did not provide further information.

On Feb. 22, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand, causing at least 148 deaths and widespread destruction.