'Nice way to start the day!' - 5.7 quake's 7am jolt

An earthquake has been felt in the lower North Island. Photo / Thinkstock

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An earthquake measuring 5.7 has shaken central New Zealand awake this morning.

The quake struck at 7am, and was centred in the South Taranaki Bight, 90km south of Opunake and 160km northwest of Wellington, at a depth of 200km.

GNS Science said the quake was widely felt in the lower North Island and upper South Island, with reports felt as far north as New Plymouth and south as far as Christchurch.

Fire Service and police reported there had been no callouts following the jolt.

nzherald.co.nz reader Jayden felt the quake in Blenheim.

"[It was a] perfectly calm morning, was sitting in the McDonalds drive through when the ute rocked, and the menu sign was shaking too, and no one was around me. I thought that has to be an earthquake - sure enough it was."

People also turned to Twitter to describe the jolt.

"That was a decent shake, nice way to start the day!" Cameron Holmes wrote.

"It was really shaky like quite a lot of shaking and there was practically no rumbling so I had no idea it was coming," Lishie Grey said.

"Decent rumble (earthquake) just woke me. Here's hoping it was only a decent one in Wellington, not a large one somewhere else.." former New Zealand Black Cap Iain O'Brien wrote.

"I didn't feel the quake, but was woken up by my 5yr old who said it made the toys on her bed dance!" Stuart Cowley wrote.

- Herald Online staff