Photo: Getty ImagesA quake described by GeoNet as "strong" shook the lower North Island this morning. It measured 4.7 and struck 10km southwest of Pongaroa at a depth of 17km at 7.16am. Pongaroa is southwest of Hastings and northeast of Wellington. Felt reports were lodged from the top of the South Island up to around Lake Taupō.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 25, 2025 20:20 UTC