Magnitude 4.0 earthquake strikes off Hawkes Bay

A 4.0 magnitude earthquake has struck off the Hawkes Bay coast this morning, GNS Science reports.

The quake struck at 8.21am and was centred 40km south-east of Porangahau, in the Hikurangi Trough, at a depth of 40km.

GNS Science said it was possibly felt in southern Hawkes Bay and northern Wairarapa.

The quake was the fifth in the region in the last four days, the largest a magnitude 5 on Monday night.

- NZ Herald staff