Its been a shaky night for some parts of the country.

A quake measuring 5.8 hit the lower North Island just after nine o'clock, centred east of Pongaroa in the Tararua District.

To the north, some patients at Hastings Memorial Hospital had to be comforted by staff.

Just south in Castlepoint, Whakataki Hotel manager Dave Hastie says what initially felt like a strong wind turned into a strong shake.

"We get big wind gusts over here you see and the place shakes a little bit. I thought there was a bit of a wind gust and then it started to shake and rattle a little bit."

The quake and a series of aftershocks have been felt around the country.

Talkback caller Christine was in Hasting Hospital where staff and patients we left very shaken.

"We and the patients all got quite shaken up to say the least - we were on the first floor. Basically we just sat with those ones and said 'we're with you and you'll be safe'."

There are no reports of damage or injury so far from the quake.

GNS duty seismologist Caroline Holden said there had been about 3000 reports from people who said they felt the quake by 9.50pm.

They were mostly centred around the central and lower North Island but there were a few as far north as Auckland and one in Dunedin.

Residents have reported feeling the quake in the following areas:

* Blenheim

* Napier

* Wellington

* Taranaki

* Hawkes Bay

* New Plymouth

* Masterton

* Feilding

* Kuratau Northwest of Turangi

* Whanganui

* Waitomo

* Taupo

* Paraparaumu

* Palmerston North