An earthquake that rocked the lower North Island this evening has been upgraded to magnitude 5.8.
GeoNet said the "severe" intensity quake struck 15km east of Pongaroa, on the east coast near the border between Wairarapa and Manawatu, at 9.05pm.
The quake was 24km deep.
Dave Hastie, manager of the Whakataki Hotel, which is located several kilometres south of where the quake was centred, was sitting in the pub at the time.
He initially thought it was just a blustery wind.
"It was one of the better ones," he says. "I thought of dashing outside."
Mr Hastie says it was pretty short-lived and only lasted about 30 seconds.
Twitter users have reported feeling the quake in main centres throughout the lower and central North Island, including Palmerston North, Wellington, Napier and Wanganui.
Deborah Russell in Palmerston North tweeted: "Whoah! Rocking and rolling in Palmerston North. The house seemed to keep on swaying forever. #eqnz"
Labour MP Grant Robertson said: "definite #eqnz in Wellington."
Twitter user @IslandBayGirl said: "was pretty gentle but definitely a quake... #eqnz"
Also in Palmerston North, Jono Hale said: "Massive quake in PN! Whole house shock and rattled! #eqnz"
Rachel Stewart tweeted: "Long and wobbly in Whanganui #eqnz".
Tracie Almond said: "Heart rate gradually returning to normal after that creaky quake just felt in Wellington."
