Earthquake felt by more than 14,000 people across many parts of New Zealand

The quake has been widely felt around the lower North Island and upper South Island. Image / Geonet

A short and sharp earthquake has been felt by more than 14,000 people across New Zealand on Tuesday evening.

GeoNet reported the moderate 4.8 magnitude quake struck 10km southeast of Picton at a depth of 28km at 8.26pm.

It was felt by more than 14,800 people as far north as Auckland. It was widely felt around the lower North Island and upper South Island.

One listener of the Marcus Lush show on Newstalk ZB said by text that they felt an “almighty snap” in Picton. Another said it was a “good shake” on the Kapiti Coast.

Social media was abuzz after the quake, with many describing it as the “shortest quake” they had ever felt.

“That was the quickest one I’ve ever felt,” one person, who said they lived in Havelock, posted to Reddit.

“That was the shortest earthquake I have ever felt,” another person said in a tweet.

A resident of the Pelorus Sound that borders the Cook Strait said they heard a “rumbling sound followed by a sudden big jolt and smaller shakes lasting 15 or so seconds”.

A M4.8 earthquake with moderate shaking has occurred in Marlborough. Widely felt around the upper South Island and lower North Island. We have received more than 14,000 felt reports. For more detail,
see https://t.co/bThvgdsBJR pic.twitter.com/f8WswkEQfy

— GeoNet (@geonet) February 28, 2023