4.7 quake rattles lower North Island

A 4.7 quake has rattled the lower North Island. File photo

A 4.7 magnitude earthquake shook the lower North Island town of Makuri this afternoon, rattling one resident but causing little damage.

Makuri School principal Keryl Lee was alone in the school house when she felt the quake, which she said seemed to come in two short bursts.

"Well, it was enough to make me go and move to the doorway."

She said the tremor was not strong enough to send anything tumbling off shelves but said she wondered if that could be because the school house was so sturdy.

"It rattled a few things in the house but I'm in a house which survived really well compared to other people's in [previous] earthquakes."

Ms Lee said the earthquake didn't last long, only "a couple of seconds each shake".

GeoNet said the earthquake was centered 15km west of Pongaroa and struck at 12.36pm.

Residents in the neighbouring towns of Pongaroa and Pahiatua said they had not felt the quake.