A magnitude 5.6 earthquake has hit parts of New Zealand

According to reports, the quake hit the top of the South Island and bottom of the North Island this afternoon local time.

The earthquake rocked central New Zealand just after 4pm local time at a depth of 30km. The epicentre is believed to be roughly 30km south-west of Seddon, a small town in Marlborough, on New Zealand’s South Island.

People on social media commented that they felt the tremor across the upper South Island and lower North Island including Wellington and Nelson.