The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management has cleared New Zealand of a second tsunami threat following another earthquake near the Kermadec Islands.

The region was rocked by a second earthquake a short time ago which registered magnitude 6.6 following a magnitude 7.0 at 10.55am.

The second earthquake struck shortly before 5.30pm.

"There is no tsunami threat to New Zealand following the M6.6 Kermadec Islands region earthquake," MCDEM said on Twitter.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Based on current information, the initial assessment is that the earthquake is unlikely to have caused a tsunami that will pose a threat to NZ."

Earlier today, MCDEM cleared New Zealand of a tsunami threat minutes after issuing a beach warning following the magnitude 7.0 earthquake near the Kermadec Islands.

A Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management spokesman said there may be some strong currents but there was nothing to indicate a threat to life and safety in New Zealand.

Tidal gauges at Raoul Island, which lay between the epicentre and New Zealand, had shown good news, he said.

Raoul Island is home to a Department of Conservation (DOC) station.

A DOC spokeswoman confirmed all seven staff based on Raoul Island were safe and accounted for.

"There are no other contractors or visitors on the island," she said.

At this stage, they were unsure of any damage on the island and staff would be assessing this, she said.

The Kermadec Islands Nature Reserve and Marine Reserve is the most remote area managed by DOC and can only be visited with a special permit.

The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, which made the assessment alongside GNS Science, said earlier that if a tsunami had been generated in this location it was not likely to arrive in New Zealand for at least two hours.

The Government agency said the earthquake had a depth of 10 km.