Deputy Prime Minister Bill English said that 350 military personnel had been deployed to help with search and rescue efforts.

BBC: New Zealand earthquake: Rescuers work through night

Conservative Bill Cash praised Prime Minister David Cameron for using the UK's veto at the previous European Council summit last month.

BBC: European Council debate

One by one, the main players in the peace process have exited the main political stage, from SDLP leader John Hume to Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble to US President Bill Clinton to prime ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern.

BBC: Gerry Adams great survivor of Irish politics