The earthquake, the largest in the country this year, hit at 9.14 a.m. (2114 GMT) Wednesday at a focal depth of 11 km (7 miles), Reuters reported citing government seismic monitor GeoNet.
GeoNet said more than 14,000 people had reported feeling the shake, some as far north as Auckland in the North Island.
Scott Shannon, deputy mayor of Timaru near the center of the earthquake, told Radio NZ there had been no immediate reports of damage but checks were ongoing.
The quake struck not far from where a 6.3 magnitude quake hit in 2011, killing 185 people and causing major damage in the South Island city of Christchurch.
AMK/PR
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