Major 4.9 magnitude earthquake shakes NZ

Thousands of Kiwis near Hawkes Bay have reported a 4.9 magnitude earthquake.

Earthquake monitoring agency GeoNet said the earthquake took place at 4:45pm on Saturday.

It was the strongest onshore earthquake in New Zealand for 11 months.

The epicentre was five kilometres north of Waipukurau, a small town southwest of Napier on New Zealand’s North Island.

Waipukurau resident Ashleigh Manning disputed GeoNet’s rating of “moderate earthquake”.

“That was not moderate by any means. The whole house was moving! Big jolts and shaking,” she wrote on Twitter.

“Omg! Massive jolt and shaking here in Marewa Napier. Gave me a heck of a fright,” Twitter user The Hanan said.

“We heard it coming and it was a shock, like something hit the building,” Grant Seton added.

“Yuck!!!! ... I broke a nail gripping the sofa,” Jacky said.

More than 6000 Kiwis reported feeling shaking to GeoNet in the immediate aftermath.

There are no immediate reports of damage.