More earthquakes likely

The lower North Island could be in for more big shakes.

The earthquake which struck just after 4am this morning has been revised to a 6.4 magnitude.

It was centred 80 kilometres south of Opunake and was 150 kilometres deep.

Peter McGinty, a seismologist at the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, says it was felt across much of the lower North Island and as far south as Christchurch.

He says there has been a large spate of earthquakes in the lower North Island and people should prepare themselves for more, as the region has active tectonic plates.

There have been no reports of damage from this morning's shake.