New Zealand earthquake rattles North and South Island

Tuesday, 30 October 2018

Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi talks the details on the 6.2 magnitude quake.

More than 15,000 people reported feeling the strong magnitude-6.2 earthquake that struck central New Zealand on Tuesday afternoon.

The quake was initially reported as 6.7M. It struck at a depth of 207 kilometres about 25km south-west of Taumarunui, at around 3.13pm.

In Wellington, Parliament was suspended on the advice of Civil Defence.

Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi said there were no reports of damage or increased volcanic activity.

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Parliament was in session when the quake struck, and was subsequently suspended.

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* The moment Parliament was hit by the earthquake

* Prince Harry, Meghan Markle unaffected by quake

* Zoo animals barely bat an eyelid during quake**

Faafoi warned of the dangers of aftershocks and asked the public to check on neighbours, friends, and family.

He urged people to 'Drop, Cover, and Hold' in the event of further quakes.

Seismologist Dr John Ristau said the nature of deep quakes meant their effects spread far more widely.

'In these deep quakes, it takes a while for all the energy released to get up to the surface. By the time it does, it has already spread a fair distance from the quake's location,' Ristau said.

There were no reports of significant damage caused by the quake, and Civil Defense advised there was no tsunami threat to New Zealand.

Based near the bridge to nowhere, south-west of Taumaranui, beekeeper Dave Davey said he was out on the paddock with his manager working on their bees in the beehives when they felt the earthquake at 3pm.

The manager told Davey she felt the earthquake but he could not feel it straight away because he was occupied with the bees, Davey said.

'Then I realised you could just feel the ground underneath you waving,' Davey said.

'This one wasn't strong but it lasted for quite a while.

'There was no damage, the ground was just waving away there quietly.'

Davey felt the ground 'rolling' for half a minute, he said.

'You could just feel it rolling underneath you.'

His manager was a 'little bit frightened and shocked' but it did not worry Davey, he said.

'You get the odd one now and again.'

Mitre 10 Taumarunui owner Kim Wheeler, who's also a Ruapehu District councillor, said he was sitting in the office of his business when the quake struck.

'I didn't really notice it much - there was a bit of a wobble but that's about it. I think it's a storm in a teacup. I've felt worse here than that was.'

Wheeler said nothing had fallen off shelves at his Mitre 10, which is located in the centre of Taumarunui. He'd looked outside and couldn't see any damage.

An earthquake hits the central North Island.

Whangamomona Hotel worker Kevin Barrow said the quake was very mild in the tiny town, which is about 90km south of Taumarunui.

'It's weird, it must have travelled in a narrow direction, it was mild here. A few paintings on the wall were jiggling around but that was it.'

Taranaki Civil Defence emergency management advisor Katie Hogg said they had received no reports of damage.

Hogg said they had put a post on Facebook acknowledging the shake.

The post reminded people what to do in the event of an earthquake.

'Remember, when you feel an earthquake - drop, cover and hold until the earthquake is over.'

Seismologist John Ristau says the 6.2 earthquake started with a 'good solid bump' followed by a waving, swaying motion.

Ohakune Tavern part-owner Mark Copley said he was in the kitchen of his business doing some prep work when the earthquake struck. The walls moved a little and pans hanging on hooks swung a little, Copley said.

'It wasn't violent or anything, but there was a wee bit of a sway on. I knew I'd had a few beers last night, but not that many.'

Copley said he'd felt two or three earthquakes in since moving to Ohakune a few years ago. Tuesday's quake the least significant, he said.

The quake was felt as far as the South Island.

Blenheim woman Stephanie Ham was parked outside Marlborough Boys' College, in Blenheim, when the quake hit.

'The car was rolling around and I thought my son had come up and shaken the car,' Ham said.

Thousands of people around the country felt the 6.2M earthquake.

'All the boys were walking around and none of them felt it but the people parked in front of us got out and were quite scared and were looking up at the power lines.'

'We haven't had anything as strong as a 6 [magnitude] for a while,' Ham said.

Further south in Marlborough, Seddon resident Reuben Tawhara was sitting outside the Cosy Corner Cafe when the earthquake happened. 'I was sitting outside here having a drink, it was a light shake. I was sitting down … It was only a short time, it wasn't very long.

'It wasn't rough rough but enough to feel it.'

Tawhara walked into the cafe and asked the staff if they felt it but they said they didn't because they were too busy.

The Quake was felt through much of the country.

Swimmers were evacuated from the Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000 immediately following the quake.

Staff at the pool ensured all members of the public left safely and closed the doors for the rest of the day to enable crucial safety checks to be carried out, said acting manager Kirsty Mathieson.

There were no reports of any injuries and all swimming classes were cancelled for the remainder of the day.

In Kaikōura, which was badly damaged by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in November 2016, Deb Smith said while today's shaking did not cause damage, it felt long.

'It was strong as in slow rocking and the odd gentle nudging…the usual knocking and tinkling of hanging charms.'

It served as a reminder to have an evacuation plan in place, an emergency kit and diesel in the car, she said.

In Broomfield north of Christchurch, Daphne Eden felt the 'sharp and strong' earthquake. 'I thought here we go again,' she said.

Spark spokeswoman Ellie Cross said there was 'no reported impact following the earthquake to Spark personnel, services or property at the moment'.

Vodafone confirmed there had been no impact on its network. 'The only think we did see was a spike in calls, but that is over now,' spokeswoman Kathy Gieck said at 3.40pm.