More than 2180
people have reported to feeling the shake.
“Yep felt it in Pongaroa Central. No damage,” one person said on social media.
“That wasn’t nice,” another person said.
It comes just a few weeks after another 4.8-magnitude jolt was felt in the area.
There were four aftershocks in quick succession on December 4, including one light, two weak, and then another moderate quake of 4.4-magnitude at 12.17pm, GeoNet reported.
In August a 4.9 earthquake struck nearby, about 20km south of Hastings.
GeoNet reported the quake, which hit at a depth of 30km, caused “moderate” shaking.