Earthquake rattles the Bay
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake has struck near Taupo and was felt throughout the Bay of Plenty and as far away as Hawke's Bay.
The quake struck at 12:42 pm 10 km north-east of Taupo at a depth of 108km.
GNS Science data centre manager Kevin Fenaughty said the quake was unlikely to be damaging, but was widely felt on the East Coast.
"Generally the East Coast feels them stronger than directly above where it occurred because the shaking energy is transferred more effectively up the plate boundary to the east."
The East Coast of the North Island is situated where the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates intersect.
On Monday, another earthquake centred 15km south-east of Tokoroa at a depth of 195km was also felt in Hawke's Bay, and in Wellington and Nelson.
People took to Facebook as the quake hit.
Cathy Donnelly posted: Felt it in Papamoa, thought I was having a wobbly old lady moment!
Mount Mainstreet posted: OMG who just felt that earthquake in the Mount ??? Long and slow and a goodie.
Former Tauranga woman Joanne O'Keeffe who is currently based in Ohakune said: "Well that was a good shake.... earthquake went on for about a minute .... 10k from Taupo ..... 5.5 apparently....."
Bay of Plenty Times photographer Mark McKeown posted: Holy crap...we just had an earthquake in Tauranga...and its still going! Biggest one I have felt for a while!
Maxine Paterson posted: Felt it good in Gate Pa was sitting on the floor and felt the ground shake and the couch move and was wondering whether to grab the tele in case it fell off as it shook too, pretty cool.
Michelle Sefton posted that she felt nothing in te Puke: Sitting on a bar stool at the pc the whole time....rung hubby at the mount, he even asked the neighbouring business'es and no one there felt anything either.
