U2 and Jay-Z have both paid tribute to the 29 miners killed in an explosion at a New Zealand coal mine last week.

The workers, including two Britons, were killed when a blast ripped through Pike River mine in Greymouth. There have since been two further explosions.

Addressing the crowd at a gig in Auckland last night (November 25), U2’s Bono sent his condolences to the victims and their families.

"People deal with grief in all sorts of ways. In Ireland, we sing,” he said, before performing ‘I Still Have Found What I'm Looking For’.

Bono then launched into "I still haven't found what I'm looking for".

The names of the 29 mining victims scrolled across giant video screen as the band played ’One Tree Hill’, reports the New Zealand Herald.

Support act Jay-Z also paid tribute to the miners, telling the crowd that "they will always be in our hearts and they will always be forever young."

U2 are currently performing on their 360 Degree world tour.

(by Jason Gregory)