Magnitude 4.9 earthquake strikes near North Island, almost 13,000 people report shaking

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck near the North Island tonight, causing shaking in Taranaki and the top of the South Island.

The quake, situated in the Whanganui basin, 70km northeast of French Pass at a depth of 81km, caused “light shaking” near Waverley, said GeoNet in its initial report.

GeoNet said the quake, reported at 7.23pm, was “widely felt from Taranaki to the top of the South Island”.

Shortly before 8pm almost 13,000 people have reported feeling the shake.

The quake may have been felt in Blenheim, Castlepoint, Collingwood, Dannevirke, Eketāhuna, Feilding, French Pass, Hāwera, Hunterville, Levin, Martinborough, Masterton, Mōkau, Motueka, Nelson, New Plymouth, Ohakune, Ōpunake, Palmerston North, Paraparaumu, Picton, Pongaroa, Seddon, Stratford, Taihape, Taumarunui, Waverley, Wellington, Whanganui, and surrounding localities.

One person told the Herald their house in Hāwera was shaking during the quake. Another said they felt it at their home in the Kāpiti Coast District.

More to come