Magnitude 7.6 earthquake strikes off Papua New Guinea

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No Kiwis are thought to have been affected by a large magnitude 7.6 earthquake off the the coast of Papua New Guinea.

The 33km-deep quake struck about 50km southeast of Kokopo, in the northeastern New Britain region, at 12.49pm NZT today.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said there were no indications that any New Zealanders had been affected by the earthquake.

The spokesman said there were 127 New Zealanders registered on its SafeTravel website as being in Papua New Guinea.

"The New Zealand High Commission in Port Moresby confirms that registrants in the affected area are safe and well."

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no tsunami threat to New Zealand.

However, its said waves reaching 1-3m were possible along some coasts of Papua New Guinea.

Tidal waves were also possible for the coasts of Australia, Japan, the Philippines and many of the Pacific islands.