Early morning 4.1 quake in Christchurch

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There was a magnitude 4.1 earthquake 20km north-east of Christchurch early this morning.

The quake hit at 5.21am at a depth of 15km.

GNS seismologist Caroline Holden said 19 people had reported having felt the earthquake to GNS as of 6.20am.

It was slightly off shore and, at that magnitude, you would have to have been close to it's centre to have felt it, she said.

"It was quite a gentle earthquake.''

Yesterday was the first anniversary of the February 22 earthquake when 185 people lost their lives.