The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that two Irish people were among those who died in yesterday's New Zealand earthquake.

One of the men has been named as Owen McKenna, in his mid-40s, from County Monaghan.

He was married to a New Zealand woman and had been living there for several years.

Rodney Walshe, who is Irelands honorary counsel in New Zealand confirmed that the families have been informed.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has not been able to contact nine Irish people and has what it describes as 'strong concerns' for two of them.

Rescue workers are working to try to find survivors from the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that caused severe damage to the city of Christchurch.

The authorities say at least 75 people have died and about 300 are still missing.

There are approximately 200 Irish people registered in Christchurch.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key today vowed to rebuild Christchurch, telling its residents the quake-hit city would rise again despite suffering a 'ruthless act of nature'.

'Today all New Zealanders grieve for you, Christchurch,' he said.

'On behalf of New Zealand let me say to all of you: we feel your pain, as only a small nation can, for none of us feel removed from this event.'