A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck 40km north of Te Anau at 9.14pm on Thursday, shaking large parts of the South Island and being felt across sections of the North Island.
The quake occurred at a depth of 51km and was classified as producing strong shaking.
More than 20,000 people reported feeling the earthquake, according to initial reports. There were no immediate reports of significant damage or injuries.
A late night shake for much of the South Island and parts of the North Island with a M6.3 quake. We received over 20,000 felt reports: https://t.co/NYykoT1TXP
Remember to Drop, Cover and Hold if you feel shaking, and know your tsunami evacuation route if you live near the coast. pic.twitter.com/ZTcmCRLYke— GeoNet (@geonet) July 16, 2026
