A magnitude 6.8 earthquake has hit the east coast of the North Island.
Most reports have come from Hawke's Bay, however the tremor was felt as far south as Christchurch.
Warwick Smith from GNS Science says the earthquake struck at five to nine tonight and was centred below the ocean 50 kilometres south-east of Gisborne. He says minor damage may have occurred, especially in the Napier/Gisborne area, but it would have been much more severe had the earthquake happened on shore. (Yahoo Xtra)
