Photo: GeoNet
An earthquake struck Wellington on Thursday evening.
GeoNet said the moderate 4.9 magnitude quake struck at 9.09pm and was centred 25km west of Wellington at a depth of 22km.
The earthquake was initially recorded as a magnitude 5.1 but has since been downgraded by GeoNet.
More than 30,000 people reported feeling the tremor.
A M4.9 earthquake with moderate shaking has occurred in the Cook Strait at 9:09 pm tonight. It was 22 km deep and widely felt through central New Zealand and we have received over 30,000 felt reports.
Another reminder that earthquakes can occur anywhere in New Zealand at any time pic.twitter.com/xtKzAlUkoN— GeoNet (@geonet) November 6, 2025
Several people said they heard the earthquake before feeling it, while others received phone alerts moments before the city centre building they were in began shaking.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand said that there had been no callouts as a result of the quake.
The phone alert sent to some users.
Photo: Supplied
Metlink has advised that there is a 40km/h speed restriction on all lines until further notice as a result of the quake and that commuters can expect delays.
One person told RNZ the shaking “had me seeking the strongest doorway … then it was over!”
Someone else said it shook pretty big in Paekakariki, while someone in Wellington said “the earthquake wasn’t very big so we’re all good”.
“Shopping in Woolworths supermarket in Johnsonville, Wellington … felt the quake at 9:10pm-ish!”
This is a developing story
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