A 5.8 severe magnitude earthquake has been felt across the lower South Island, including in the Central Otago town of Wanaka.
The quake at 2.29pm was located 30km northwest of Wanaka. It was at a depth of 4km.
Initial reports from Geonet reported the quake as magnitude 6.0 at a depth of 5km. These have since been revised.
Buildings in Queenstown and Wanaka were swaying for several seconds.
Police have said there are a small number of reports of broken windows, but no major incidents have been reported to emergency services.
A second shake followed seven minutes later at 2.36pm. It was located 30km northwest of Wanaka at a depth of 5km and was a magnitude 3.5. Many lighter aftershocks have also been recorded in the area by Geonet, with most unable to be felt.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council has activated its emergency operations centre with staff inspecting critical infrastructure. It has closed Mt Aspiring Road at the Bluffs due to rockfall and a crack in the road.
BOTTLES NOT TOPPLED AT LIQUOR STORE
Apart from being "very noisy" the earthquake didn't topple over one bottle, said Super Liquor Wanaka duty manager, Cris Johnston.
She said they had pellets stacked up high, and not one toppled over.
NEW WORLD SUPERMARKET REMAINS OPEN
A number of bottles have fallen from the shelves at Wanaka New World.
However staff say there's little significant damage and there are no plans to close the store.
WINE SHATTERED AT FOUR SQUARE
Wanaka Four Square worker Julie Sinclair said the shop was full of customers when the quake came "rolling" down the valley towards the small town.
"It was pretty scary. We all got outside pretty quickly," she said.
Sinclair said several bottles of wine had shattered after being knocked from the shelves during the shake.
"You could hear [the earthquake] coming... it was a bit of a roller and went on for quite a while."
PUZZLING WORLD EVACUATED
Wanaka attraction Puzzling World was evacuated following the earthquake.
"It was significant, we evacuated quick because we didn’t know whether it was going to get worse," Heidi Landsborough of Puzzling World said.
"It was a bit difficult because we had a few people who thought it was part of the experience."
Nobody at Puzzling World was injured.
QUEENSTOWN AIRPORT POSTPONES FLIGHT LANDING
A flight landing was postponed as Queenstown Airport inspected its runway following the shake.
Airport spokeswoman Jen Andrews said the plane had since landed.
The shake was felt throughout the building and staff in her office were all under their desks, she said.
"Our team went straight out and did a sweep and made sure everyone was OK and all property was OK."
WANAKA OFFICES SHAKEN
Wanaka Tourism Office general manager James Helmore said the shake built up quite quickly and went on for more than 15 seconds.
"It gave us all a bit of a shock."
"There may be some minor damage in plastering" he said, but there was none he could see at that moment.
His office is in the centre of Wanaka on the third floor.
People were still working along the waterfront as normal, he said.
Wanaka real estate agent Harry Briggs said he ran from his first floor office in Helwick Street.
"I wasn't staying in the building."
He said most people in the Wanaka shopping mall fled to the safety of the street outside.
The earthquake was the largest he had felt for five or six years.
"It was quite strong and sharp. It lasted for about 30 seconds."
"QUITE POWERFUL" FEELING AT WARBIRDS MUSEUM
Naomi Lindsay works at the Warbirds and Wheels Museum at Wanaka Airport and said the shake was "quite powerful".
"A lot of the windows were shaking and a few of the fixed cupboards were shaking. It just seemed to go on for quite a while as well, which I think was the scary thing."
COUNCILLOR GIVEN A FRIGHT
Queenstown Lakes District Councillor Merv Aoake said the quake gave him a huge fright.
"It started off with a noise, and then the dog started barking and then a rumble came through really. There was quite a significant jolt, and then it started to calm down," he said.
VINEYARD MANAGER ASSESSES PROPERTY
Rippon Vineyard and Winery commercial manager Pete Eastwood said he was "touching base" with everyone across the property.
"Everyone's safe and well but it was definitely a big rattle," he said.
"At the moment we're in the process of assessing damage, but there have been no obvious signs as yet."
QUAKE BRINGS BACK MEMORIES FOR SUSHI OUTLET OWNER
Queenstown Sushi Box owner Kaz Suzuki headed outdoors with a customer as his business shook.
"It was very scary – like Japan," he said. "When I was younger we had a big earthquake – a magnitude six – and lots of my friends died."
Source: The Southland Times, ONE News, 3 News and Newstalk ZB
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