The Regional Council is helping to co-ordinate the Bay of Plenty response to the Canterbury earthquake.

The Council's Recovery Manager has been sent to the region to help with the emergency.

Council Group Manager of Land Management Warwick Murray says assistance from the Eastern Bay is being funneled through the Regional Council.

He says in its role of running the Emergency Management office, its co-ordinating offers from councils throughout the Bay of Plenty, and submitting those through to the National Crisis Management Centre in Wellington, where they'll be made available to Canterbury.

Meanwhile, a call's been put out for Eastern Bay engineers to help in the aftermath of the Canterbury quake.

Volunteers are being sought to assist with building and site assessment work.

Whakatane Engineering Consultant, Craig Manktelow says structural and geotechnical engineers are needed most.

Mr Manktelow expects there to be a good local response, as the demand grows.

He says there's a large number of buildings that are going to need to be assessed, in terms of their safety and the ongoing repairs needed.