Two earthquakes - the second a strong 5.2 magnitude - have struck near Masterton causing the lower North Island to "roll".
Photo: GeoNet
The latest was a 5.2 magnitude 15km west of Masterton, which struck at 7.55am. It was felt in Blenheim, Wellington and Lower Hutt, among other places.
The first quake, a magnitude 4.7 quake was centred 20km west of Masterton.
It struck at about 7.15am and was felt from Wellington to Whanganui, GeoNet said.
A Whanganui resident texted to RNZ that the quake was a slow, rolling motion.
Another, in Tauherenikau, said he thought a tree had fallen on the house: "The whole room seemed to shift a couple of feet and then spring back."
M5.2 quake causing strong shaking near Masterton https://t.co/JLYN4JfnXl
— GeoNet (@geonet) May 11, 2016
Within 20 minutes of the main quake there had already been two aftershocks - neither strong enough to be felt. Up until about 11.30am there had been 15 aftershocks, but many were not strong enough to be felt. Geonet said aftershocks could continue for weeks.
There had also been several earthquakes in the same area the hour before the 5.2 quake.
Martinborough olive grower Ray Lilley said his house shook "quite sharply" in the biggest quake.
"The windows all rattled. A couple of items fell over inside the kitchen and the dogs came running through to say there's an earthquake going on. We knew that already," Mr Lilley said.
The #eqnz tag on Twitter was quickly swamped with local reports on this morning's shakes:
That was definitely the biggest earthquake I’ve felt in a very long time. Actually a bit shaken by it. Very noisy and rattly. #eqnz
— Miraz Jordan (@Miraz) May 11, 2016
What the hell was with the big jerking motion at the end? #eqnz
— Sigur Rory (@Nightwyrm) May 11, 2016
Woah that was a quick but violent shake #eqnz
— Katie (@KatieHates) May 11, 2016
First time I've exclaimed involuntarily. Whoa. #eqnz
— Mark Foster (@BlakJakNZ) May 11, 2016
Bloody hell - that one was bigger than normal! #eqnz
— Siobhan (@SiobhanLeachman) May 11, 2016
GeoNet seismologist Caroline Little said the agency had received more than 3000 reports of people feeling the quake, some as far south as Christchurch, but there were no reports of structural damage.
The shakes followed a 4.7 quake that shook Christchurch last night at 8.45pm.
Long, quite good, #eqc in Mahau Sound.
— Mark Hubbard (@MarkHubbard33) May 11, 2016
#chch #eqc that rumble really rocked the house. It was a very long rumble. @NZWarriors @PenrithPanthers welcome to the city that shakes 4.7
— Nogo Sipeli (@niuz22) May 11, 2016
