Earthquakes shake lower North Island
14 December 2005

Two substantial earthquakes shook the lower North Island yesterday but neither caused significant damage. An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale rattled the Wellington region at 9.09pm last night.

The quake, which was about 30 kilometres deep, was centred 10km northeast of Porirua and 20km southwest of Paraparaumu. It was felt in Lower Hutt, Porirua, Wellington and the Kapiti Coast. GNS Science duty seismologist Brian Ferris said there were also isolated reports of shakes from Marlborough, Eketahuna and Dannevirke.

"We've had many felt reports, but very little damage. A few people have reported things falling off shelves, but that's about it."

Early yesterday morning, another quake - reaching 5 on the Richter scale - struck 20km east of Pahiatua. It was felt throughout the lower North Island. The 25-kilometre-deep earthquake, struck at 2.55am. Mr Ferris said the two quakes were quite a distance apart and unrelated. A spate of quakes yesterday in the wider Asia-Pacific region - Fiji, the Hindu Kush and Japan - were also unrelated.

A fire communications spokesman said they had received no reports of damage from last night's second quake. Quakes around 5 on the Richter scale are generally felt widely, and can cause damage near their epicentre