A deep earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale on Tuesday rocked the central region of New Zealand's North Island, DPA reported.
The government research institute GNS Science said the earthquake was centred 150 kilometres deep and 30 kilometres west of Taupo.
The quake was felt widely across New Zealand, but no damage was immediately reported.
The country is recovering from a series of earthquakes that have struck its South Island since September, destroying large parts of its second-largest city, Christchurch.