Why some experts believe new gang laws could backfire, Wellington tackles a railway renewals backlog and Paula Bennett considers Auckland mayoralty in the latest NZ Herald headlines. Video / NZ Herald
A 5.1 magnitude earthquake has struck Canterbury tonight, with more than 4600 people reporting the sharp jolt.
The 9.21pm quake was centred near the small township of Methven, about 100km west of Christchurch City, at a depth of 5km.
GeoNet said it may have been felt in Akaroa, Amberley, Arthur’sPass, Ashburton, Christchurch, Culverden, Fairlie, Geraldine, Greymouth, Hokitika, Methven, Mount Cook, Oxford, Timaru, Twizel, Waimate, and surrounding localities.
A shake for those in the central South Island this evening with a M5.1 earthquake, 5km deep, 30 km west of Methven. Earthquakes can occur anywhere in New Zealand at any time. In the event of a large earthquake: Drop, Cover and Hold. https://t.co/sBMNcOREIRpic.twitter.com/xiUcp7AzCC
The earthquake occurred at 9.30am on December 9 and was centred 5km south of Culverden and 12km deep, GeoNet said.
More than 550 people, mostly in Christchurch, told the GeoNet site they felt the quake.
It came about two months after a magnitude-6.2km quake hit Geraldine south of Christchurch in what was the strongest earthquake to hit New Zealand last year.
More than 14,000 people posted reports on GeoNet saying they felt that September 20 quake .
It was described as a long, rumbling quake and didn’t cause any violent jolts.
