Geonet received more than 500 reports of people who had felt shakes, Mr Ristau said.
There would be few aftershocks because the earthquake was so deep, he said.
Several people have reported feeling the quakes on social media, in areas including Bay of Plenty and Wellington.
Fire Service and police northern communications have received no reports of damage.
A spokesman for the Murupara police said he was outside when the earthquake was recorded as happening and he didn't feel a thing. He said there had been no calls from members of the public.
A woman spoken to at Murupara Area School was also surprised to hear reports of a quake - saying she didn't feel anything and nobody at the school had felt the quake.
