Wellington and Wairarapa hit by another quake

An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale struck the lower North Island at 6.31am today.

The quake was centred 40km southeast of Martinborough, at a depth of 20km.

The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences said the quake was felt in the Wairarapa and Wellington regions.

The quake was the latest in a flurry of seismic activity in recent days.

This morning's quake was centred at the same location as seven of ten quakes which shook the Wairarapa and Wellington in a ten-hour period on January 18. The biggest measured 5.3.

A 5.5 magnitude quake centred near Upper Hutt struck on January 21 -- the largest in the region for nine years. It was quickly followed by a smaller quake, measuring 3.7.

On January 28 the region was rocked by another small earthquake, measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale and centred within 30km of Paraparaumu on the Kapiti Coast.

- NZPA