Magnitude 5.9 earthquake near Taumarunui felt across North Island
A severe magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near Taumarunui early on Saturday morning, felt widely across the North Island and the top of the South Island.
An earthquake of magnitude 5.9 hit at 4.51am on Saturday, centred about 5km south-west of Taumarunui at a depth of 10km. The shaking was felt across much of the North Island, including Auckland, with more than 20,000 people reporting it. Some residents received alerts on their phones before the ground shook. Hours later, an eruption was reported at Rotorua Golf Club.
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Coverage across the news outlets we track, as at publication.
What outlets are saying
RNZ
'Severe' magnitude 5.9 quake hits North Island
The quake, centred near Taumarunui, was reportedly felt across much of the North Island, including Auckland, and the top of the South.
Stuff
'It went on and on': Strong 5.9 earthquake jolts North Island
The quake hit at 4.51am on Saturday and was centred 5km south-west of Taumarunui at a depth of 10km.
NZ Herald
5.9 magnitude quake strikes Manawatū region, more than 20,000 people report feeling ‘severe’ shaking
A 'severe' 5.9 quake hit just south of Taumarunui early this morning.
Stuff
Watch: ‘Full on’ shaking emptied kitchen shelves onto bench and floor, in ‘truly shocking’ 5.9 quake
A Taumarunui woman was left with a ransacked kitchen after a strong magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near the lower North Island town early Saturday morning.
NZ Herald
Earthquake live updates: Eruption at Rotorua Golf Club hours after 5.9 magnitude quake hit
A golfer said the eruption sounded like 'shotgun sounds, like duck hunting or something'.
Otago Daily Times
'Severe' magnitude 5.9 quake hits North Island
1News
Why phones woke thousands before 5.9 magnitude Taumarunui earthquake
Some North Islanders received earthquake alerts before they felt the ground shake, thanks to a system that turns Android phones into a giant seismic detection network.
Newstalk ZB
Earthquake live updates: Eruption at Rotorua Golf Club hours after 5.9 magnitude quake strikes
A 5.9 magnitude earthquake has struck Manawatū-Whanganui in the early hours of this morning.