West Coast shaken by small quake

A small earthquake jolted the West Coast of the South Island this morning but there were no reports of damage.

Geological and Nuclear Sciences recorded a quake registering 4.1 on the Richter scale at 6.06am.

It was located around 20km east of the township of Harihari, 75km southwest of Hokitika, at a depth of around 4.1km.

Local resident Heather Schmetz, who runs the Harihari Motor Inn, described it as "a short sharp shudder".

"They waited for the aftershock but it never came -- it's nothing compared to some we've had," she told NZPA.

"Living on the fault-line keeps you on your toes."

- NZPA