Rights group Amnesty International said protests would be held in cities across the globe, including Taipai, Delhi, Geneva, London, Lisbon and Ottawa.

An estimated 500 people marched through Wellington's main thoroughfare led by 100 members of the local Burmese community.

Amnesty New Zealand campaign director Gary Reese said demonstrators also marched in Dunedin, Christchurch and Palmerston North, many wearing red to honour the Buddhist monks who spearheaded the recent Burma protests.

He said Prime Minister Helen Clark, currently in Europe, had sent a message of support.

"There was a really strong feeling that people wanted action on Burma, that it's become the world's forgotten human rights crisis over the last 40 years or so and we can't let that continue,'' Mr Reese said.

"The people of Burma have done all they can, they've been arrested, they've been killed, now it's time for the international community to do something.''

Authorities in Burma said 13 people were killed in the crackdown on the anti-regime protests, the largest the country has seen in almost 20 years.

In Sydney, several hundred protesters were expected to rally outside the city's iconic Opera House in an expression of solidarity with Burma's pro-democracy protesters.

Amnesty's London-based secretary general Irene Khan said the protests were aimed at focusing world attention on the actions of the military junta.

"Support is now greatly needed to keep visible pressure on the Burmese authorities to stop the violence towards demonstrators, ensure the safety of detainees and release prisoners of conscience,'' Ms Khan said.

Australian authorities estimate the Burma military killed at least 30 people taking part in mass pro-democracy rallies last month and arrested more than 1400 participants, including Buddhist monks.

Australian protest organiser Natasha Lutes said rallies in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney were scheduled for today.

"This is about getting a message to the people in Burma,'' she said.

"They've been struggling to get the message out about the atrocities that are happening in Burma, putting their lives on the line. We want them to know the world has been listening and ordinary people everywhere support them.''