Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague has offered his condolences to New Zealand as it marks the first anniversary of the Christchurch quake today, and says Britain stands ready to help as the city rebuilds.
In a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully, Mr Hague expressed his sympathy, saying his thoughts remained with all those affected by the tragedy.
"It is difficult to imagine how Cantabrians have coped with the aftermath of this tragedy, including the 10,000 aftershocks which I know they have endured since the original quake,'' he wrote.
"It is a testament to the Kiwi spirit that we witness the citizens of Christchurch determined to see their city rebuilt. Britain stands ready to help you in the journey ahead. I look forward to the day when we can celebrate a new iconic city of the 21st century emerging from the destruction of the old.''
