The earthquake struck 40 kilometres north of Te Anau, with the west coast of the South Island from Milford Sound to Puysegur Point, likely to be affected.

Initially assessed as a magnitude-6.3 earthquake, NEMA later revised that downward to a 5.9.

More than 17,500 people reported feeling the shaking nationwide.

An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck near the town of Te Anau on New Zealand's South Island, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning.