The British government says it is saddened by the loss of life at the Pike River Coal mine.
Two of the miners were British citizens. They were Peter Rodger, 40, and Malcolm Campbell, 25, both from Scotland.
Foreign Secretary William Hague says the government's thoughts are with the families and friends of the 29 miners.
Mr Hague thanked the New Zealand Government and emergency services for the co-operation and help provided to the families and British consular team.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso has expressed the commission's condolences to New Zealand and to the families of the men who died.
Mr Barroso said he would also like to pay tribute to those rescuers who had worked so hard since the first explosion to find a way to bring the miners to the surface alive.
