Whanagnui mayor Hamish McDouall said council had checked on the isolated areas up the river and no considerable damaged has been reported.
"I was down town when it happened and the shop windows started wobbling which was pretty scary," he said.
"We've had a few reports of things fallen off shelves but other than that no major damage has been reported.
"Our main concern is land slipping up the Whanganui river and our civil defence team will be keeping an eye on that."
Whanganui District Council has had no reports of damage but its parks and property staff were out checking council facilities.
The council's emergency manager Tim Crowe said it was a good time to review family plans and emergency readiness at work and home.
He said anyone who believed they had property or possessions damaged as a result of the quake should take photos and notify their insurance company.
Posts to Whanganui Chronicle's Facebook page have reported items falling off shelves.
No major damage reports so far.
Staff and students at Whanganui Girls' College took refuge in doorways and under desks.
BP Whanganui East is without EftPos.
Fire and Emergency have not received any calls as of yet.
Bottles fell off shelves at Whanganui east Four Square.
It felt bigger than the Kaikoura earthquake. I thought that a mountain blew its top off.
We hope everyone practiced Drop, Cover, Hold with the earthquake we’ve just had. Here’s the information about the quake from GNS Science. https://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/2018p816466
Posted by Whanganui District Council on Monday, 29 October 2018
Helena Mantynen wrote on Facebook: "I wasn't able to stand upright during the earthquake in Castlecliff, Whanganui. It felt like two earthquakes with a mini pause in the middle. The last bit rattled my windows a bit too much to my liking. It felt bigger than the Kaikoura earthquake. I thought that a mountain blew its top off."
Smaller aftershocks have been recorded at 3.21pm and 3.35pm.
It is one of the largest earthquakes in New Zealand since a Magnitude 7.8 tremor struck near Kaikoura in November 2016, which killed two people.
Leah Akkerman chimed in with some timely humour: "Bit of a welcome to NZ for Meghan and Harry lol."
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Read also: 'Bending' Pacific plate likely cause of New Zealand earthquake felt widely across Wellington, North Island, South Island
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