Quake shakes lower North Island

A moderate earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale shook the lower North Island at 2.22pm today, with minor damage reported in Masterton and near Otaki.

GNS Science said the quake was located 10km northwest of Masterton, at a depth of 30km and felt throughout the lower North Island.

"It's a reasonable sized earthquake," GNS spokesman Brian Ferris told NZPA. "It's still classed as quite shallow, but had it been something like 5 or 10 km deep, the damage close to the epicentre, would have been greater."

People had reported goods falling off shelves in Otaki and Carterton and furniture moving in Masterton, but no structural damage, Mr Ferris said.

He said aftershocks were possible, but would likely be smaller than the initial quake.

Police and Fire Service said they had no reports of damage so far.

- NZPA