Sharp earthquake shakes Bay of Plenty

An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale was felt sharply in eastern Bay of Plenty this morning.

The quake, just before 8am, was centred 30km southeast of Opotiki at a depth of 40km and felt as far as Gisborne, according to a preliminary report from GNS Science.

An Opotiki police spokeswoman said the quake had been a strong jolt, but no reports of damage had come through by 9am.

It was preceded early this morning by a smaller earthquake felt in the Pongakawa Valley.

The 2.3 quake, at 4.44am, was centred about 20km northwest of Kawerau, at a depth of only 2km.

- NZPA