The quake struck at 6.48 am (local time), according to the United States Geological Survey. The epicentre was 101 kilometres northwest of Christchurch on the central South Island at a depth of 10 kilometres.

New Zealand earthquake monitoring agency GeoNet collected 2,600 reports of people in the Christchurch area feeling the quake, which some described on social media as long and rolling, others as short and sharp.

GeoNet reported a subsequent string of smaller earthquakes.The quakes did not prompt any tsunami warnings in the region. (SDF/KH)