The quake struck just off the coast near Tauranga at 10.47pm local time (9.47am UTC). The epicentre was recorded at a depth of 282km (175 miles), and thousands have reported feeling the tremor.
Is there a tsunami warning?
According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, no tsunami warning, watch or advisory is in effect.
According to GeoNet, the quake was widely felt, in part due to its depth.
The GeoNet report said: “We’ve received more than 11000 felt reports from all over the country – although most were for weak or light shaking.
“This [earthquake] was so widely felt because the subducting tectonic plate under the North Island’s East Coast allows seismic waves to travel further.”
GeoNet, which monitors seismic activity, has said deeper quakes are often widely felt, especially on the East Coast of New Zealand.
Residents in the region have taken to social media to report their experiences.
In rural Gisborne, Peter Humphreys said the quake was a “gentle 15 second tremor”.
Dawn in Tauranga, who was closer to the quake’s centre, said she felt the earthquake at Pyes Pa.
She said it was like a lifting up rather than a shake or rattle.
Courtney Bignell, also of Tauranga, said her bed was shaking a bit, as was her bedside table.
Further south, in Christchurch’s Belfast Gwen Hindmarsh described it as only very light, but said “it moved both ways”.