Earthquake of magnitude 6.3 hits New Zealand’s North Island – USGS

WELLINGTON (Reuters) – An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 struck central New Zealand today, little more than a week after a powerful tremor centred in the upper South Island rocked the country and killed two people.

Today’s quake was centred off the coast of the North Island, 138 km (86 miles) from Palmerston North at a depth of 37 km (23 miles).

Thousands of aftershocks have been registered since a 7.8 magnitude quake struck near Christchurch in the early hours of Nov 14.