Earthquake in Wellington and upper South Island

An earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale shook the Wellington region and Marlborough Sounds this afternoon.

The quake, which struck at 1.38pm, was centred 30km northwest of Porirua and was 50km deep.

The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences said it was likely to have been felt widely in the Wellington region and Marlborough Sounds.

- NZPA