Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully was so unimpressed at the management of the Auckland waterfront on Friday night that he will use powers granted under RWC legislation.

The government is discussion plans to evacuate foreign nationals from Libya if necessary as the travel warning for the troubled county is raised to extreme.

[UPDATE: Andy Haden has relinquished his position as a World Cup Ambassador, World Cup Minister Murray McCully revealed shortly before 5pm today.

Mr Haden had been scheduled to meet with the minister later in the day.

Mr McCully said he accepted the resignation, tendered by email, "with sadness".

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has postponed her visit to New Zealand in the wake of the massive earthquake in Haiti, Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced today.

“Secretary Clinton rang me this morning to convey the news. She promised to reschedule the visit as soon as possible,” Mr McCully said.

“Mrs Clinton told me that given the unimaginable scale of tragedy, and the fact that there are no operating institutions left in Haiti, the importance of US leadership in the relief efforts required her to return home immediately.