4.6 quake rattles Canterbury

Photo / Thinkstock

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake has shaken the Christchurch region tonight.

The quake, centred 30km west of Christchurch, hit at 8.42pm at a depth of 11km. It was widely felt in the region.

"There was a bit of a rumble," wrote Stacey Norman on Twitter. "...Cos I haven't felt any in ages ... it actually made me jump."

"Nice wee earthquake there," tweeted Cam Gordon. "Always seems to happen when you least expect."

- Herald Online