GNS reports the 5.5 magnitude quake at 18 past 8 was some 300 kilometres east of Whangamata, and just over 300 kilometres deep.

The earthquake was felt as far away as Hawkes Bay and Wellington.

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Other Environment News

16 Jan: MetService has lifted all severe thunderstorm warnings - but an orange rain alert remains for eastern Bay of Plenty

16 Jan: The Whakatane, Opotiki and Gisborne districts are the latest to be hit by severe thunderstorms

15 Jan: Thunderstorms are continuing to move through the North Island bringing heavy rain

15 Jan: DNA from wolf pup’s last meal reveals new facts about woolly rhino’s extinction

13 Jan: A sewer leak at a popular Christchurch swimming spot has been traced to bottles being flushed down toilets, blocking the septic system

13 Jan: No further Queensland fruit flies have been discovered in Auckland's Mt Roskill, following the detection of a single male of the species last week

12 Jan: Ground crews are working to fully stamp out a large vegetation fire burning in Hawke's Bay

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Today's News

Tennis:
Argentine seventh seed Sebastian Baez has booked his spot in the ASB tennis Classic final 18:57

Rugby League:
Former Kiwis and Melbourne Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona is donning the gloves for the first of his nine contracted boxing matches tonight, against fellow former league player Jeremy Latimore 18:57

Entertainment:
Anya Taylor-Joy "loved" having a mullet 18:53

Living & Travel:
Roger Federer has categorised himself as more of a Carlos Alcaraz than a Jannik Sinner as he prepares to return to the Australian Open court 18:37

Entertainment:
Jennifer Lawrence sees herself as a "stay-at-home mom" 18:23

Entertainment:
Timothee Chalamet has dec lared he feels "so tremendously grateful" as he basks in his success after the Golden Globe Awards 17:53

International:
Can a Nobel Peace Prize be revoked, refused or given away? 17:37

Living & Travel:
There's a Team New Zealand America's Cup vibe to the Swedish SailGP team debuting at the season-opener in Perth this weekend 17:27

Entertainment:
The Duffer Brothers started filming the Stranger Things finale before they had finished the script because they were so "low on time" 17:23

International:
What we know about the US and European military presence in Greenland 17:07

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