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

If the health aspect was the prime motivator in this bill, a law making tobacco as illegal as heroin, crystal meth or narcotics without a prescription would have been introduced instead.

FORBES: I respect you, smoker. The new laws against outdoor smoking are about you returning the favor.

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