A "severe" magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near Taumarunui this morning, jolting the central North Island awake with shaking felt as far away as Auckland and Marlborough.
The quake struck at 4.51am on Saturday, centred 5km south of the town at a shallow depth of just 9km, and is the largest ever recorded in the area, according to GeoNet.
According to GeoNet, more than 22,000 people across the North and South Island reported feeling the shaking, which was described as "severe".
Earth Sciences NZ seismologist Sam Taylor-Offord said it had been an "unpleasant early morning wake up" and that the number of aftershocks had climbed sharply.
"We have 79 aftershocks, which is quite a lot, given it's only been a few hours," he said, adding they were ranging in magnitude from 1 to 4.
He said the earthquake sequence was expected to run for months, and even in a year's time scientists would likely still be able to attribute smaller shakes in the region to the 5.9.
It was "completely normal" for a quake of this size to be felt widely, he added, though the shaking was less pronounced on the eastern side of the North Island.
"There's kind of this shadow between running right down the middle of the Taupō volcanic zone, where the Earth is sort of softer, hotter, and seismic waves get worn down really quickly," he explained — meaning the quake was strongly felt on one side of that zone and barely felt on the other.
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No major damage reported
Civil Defence Manawatū Whanganui said there had been no immediate reports of injuries or building damage, with power, water and communication systems all operating as normal in the area.
"Minor slips have been reported in the area, so if you're on the road please drive with care," it said.
"Emergency services and roading crews are assessing the situation, but a fuller view of any impacts is unlikely to be available until the sun comes up."
It said multiple aftershocks had been recorded in the area and were expected to continue throughout the morning.
"If people feel them, they should Drop, Cover and Hold. If you are in bed, the best thing to do is to stay there and cover your head and neck with a pillow."
Multiple road closures, motorists urged to 'drive with care'
NZTA Waka Kotahi said heavy rainfall overnight, combined with the earthquake near Taumarunui, had caused several slips on raods in the central North Island.
State Highway 3 (SH3) through Awakino Gorge between Mokau and Piopio was closed due to a slip.
"Geotech crews will be out at the slip sites this morning, assessing the roads. Please avoid the area and delay your travel," it said.
State Highway 43 was also closed between Whangamōmona and Taumarunui, but remained open betwene Stratford and Whangamōmona.
State Highway 4 remained opened despite reports of several slips along the route.
Ruapehu District Council said it had been notified of multiple slips on Otanui South Rd.
"A crew is en route to carry out repairs. Based on the information currently available, the road is expected to be cleared today; however, this is subject to change as conditions are assessed," it advised.
Manawatū-Whanganui police said it had been made aware of "a few broken windows and such through the town," following the quake.
Saturday's earthquake comes just over a week after another magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near Te Anau, shaking homes across Otago, Southland and parts of Canterbury. While both were similar in size, seismologists say the two events are unrelated.
'Shook the whole house'
People from across the country reported feeling Saturday morning's quake.
In Auckland, dozens of Facebook users reported feeling the shaking, while one person in Hamilton said: "The bed was shaking. Felt heavier than a truck going past."
In Waikato, one Te Awamutu resident described it as a "good shake", while another in Te Kūiti, one person said the quake "shook the whole house".
In Tauranga, one user described "large pots falling off the shelf" as their house shook, while a resident in Midhirst, Taranaki described it as a "huge quake".
Further east, a resident in Dannevirke reported a "good jolt", while in Blenheim, one user described the shaking as "strong".
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