Earthquake rocks North Island

An earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale hit the North Island at 4.55pm yesterday.

The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences said the quake, centred 100km north of White Island and 270km underground, was felt from the Bay of Plenty to Wellington. Shortest day Today's winter solstice at 6.46pm marks the shortest day of the year.

The winter solstice is when the sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky before moving south.

MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said many took it to be the start of winter, with the coldest time of the year still six weeks away.