Earthquake hoax email circulated

File photo / Sarah Ivey

An earthquake prediction emailed out widely across New Zealand has been confirmed as a hoax.

The email, purportedly from the 'National Earthquake Information Center from New Zealand', predicts an earthquake in Auckland and points readers to nzherald.co.nz for more information.

The Herald has confirmed it did not send out the scam email and is tracing its origin.

- NZ HERALD STAFF