An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale shook the New Zealand capital of Wellington early Monday, seismologists said.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the moderate quake which struck at 5:32 am (1732 GMT Sunday).
The tremblor was located 50 kilometres (31 miles) northwest of Wellington and 60 kilometres below the earth's surface, GNS Science, the nation's geological agency, said in a statement on its website.
The quake was felt throughout the Wellington area.
GNS records 14,000 earthquakes in and around New Zealand every year as the country is positioned on the boundary of the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates. Most of these quakes are small with only 150 on average felt by residents.
