‘A bit of a jolt’ when a 4.5 magnitude earthquake shakes the lower North Island

The lower part of the North Island has been shaken by a mild earthquake and thousands of people reported that they felt “a little shaken”.

A 4.5 magnitude earthquake struck 30 kilometers northwest of Levin at 2.04 p.m., according to GeoNet.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 34 km.

“A little shake up for the lower North Island this afternoon,” GeoNet tweeted.

According to GeoNet, 4,190 users were reported to have felt it, as far north as Auckland and as far south as Invercargill. Most reported it as “slight” or “weak”.

Six respondents said it was “extreme”, two “severe”, 16 “strong” and 269 called it “moderate”.