MPs had their afternoon proceedings in the Parliament's debating chamber interrupted suddenly as a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the capital this afternoon, making a hurried exit as the chairperson declared the sitting suspended.
National List MP Alfred Ngaro was on his feet making a speech on letting fees and didn't stop as the quake struck.
"Those concerns are not being addressed. Sorry madam chair is there a...? he said before chair, National's Anne Tolley interrupted.
"We're interrupting your speech just for a moment," Ms Tolley said.
Labour's Phil Twyford, seated beside Ms Tolley looked upwards around the chamber and said: "We should probably vacate."
Ms Tolley, rising to her feet, said: "I just think we might be best to suspend the sitting for a few moments while we take some civil defence advice. There's obviously a substantial earthquake.
"I ask people to clear the gallery and seek shelter upstairs. Take advice from the officials up there and if members go back to their offices ensure that their staff are safe."
Geonet initially reported the quake at 3.13pm as magnitude 6.7 and later revised that to 6.2, 25 km south-west of Taumarunui at a depth of 207 kilometres.
Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi tweeted at 3.28pm, posting: "Hi everyone, we all felt that here at Parliament....Shakeout taught us all to drop cover and hold. Check your neighbours and family are OK. Will update soon as we get more information, adding the hashtag, #shakeout.
MPs were recalled for Parliament to resume at 3.38pm.
Shortly afterwards, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tweeted that the quake was widely felt across central New Zealand.
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