KEY POINTS:

• 6.2 magnitude earthquake, 25km south-west of Taumarunui
• Felt widely around the lower North Island and upper South Island
• No immediate reports of damage
• Parliament temporarily suspended but now resumed
• No tsunami threat

A 6.2 magnitude quake has struck the North Island.

The quake was widely felt with people in Wellington reporting it went on for around 30 seconds.

Parliament has been suspended after the quake. Speaker Anne Tolley made the decision after the quake seemed to roll on for some time, shaking the cameras filming proceedings.

The sitting of Parliament was suspended to allow time for a check of the buildings and staff.

Hi everyone, we all felt that here at Parliament. Early indications are that it was 6.7 near Taumamaranui. Shakeout taught us all to drop cover and hold. Check your neighbours and family are OK. Will update soon as we get more information. #shakeout

— Kris Faafoi Mana (@KrisinMana) October 30, 2018

excuse the mess but here's my Earthquake: The Experience™ vid pic.twitter.com/a2GmSka3mm

— 🎄🌙🦇 spooky's christmas 🦇🌙🎄 (@gnat_fly) October 30, 2018

It was at a depth of 165km and hit at 3.13pm 20km south west of Taumarunui.

The quake was also felt in the South Island with Christchurch, Ashburton and North Canterbury reporting shaking.

A Christchurch Fire and Emergency spokesman said his whole office based in the CBD felt the quake. "It was quite a significant shake but no damage or injuries have been reported yet."

Olivia Allison felt the quake in Palmerston North.

"Wholly crap we just had an epic quake in palmy. First Big one since I've been back. Just keeps going," she said on Twitter.

Goenet says nearly 11,000 people felt the quake.

The Hits presenter Brodie Kane tweeted: "So I actually woke from a nap into the earthquake and it wasn't even in the same island as me...holy sh**!"

Wellington Fire and Emergency spokesman said no injuries or damaged had been reported in the area as of yet.

A North Canterbury resident said the quake was "quite noticeable".

A Christchurch man said the quake felt "yuck". He said he was six floors up in a concrete-clad government building that began to sway.

A Rotorua resident said it felt like it went on for ages.

Wellington-based Herald reporter Lucy Bennett said the shaking was quite gentle.

"There was a gentle shake and a jolt. It kept rolling on and then there was another jolt," Bennett said.

Wellington resident Kasey MacKinnon - who has just moved up from Christchurch - said it went on for a while. "Biggest one I've felt in a long time and first one since moving to Wellington two months ago."

Donna Field said she felt "quite a significant shake in Greytown Wairarapa. Went for about 30 seconds. Made the building creak and sway back and forth. "

Students and teachers still at Whanganui Girls' College at the time of the quake sought refuge under door jambs and desks, the Whanganui Chronicle reports.

Staff at The Christchurch Transport Operations Centre described it as "a good shake". "It had our building rocking and rolling, the location of the earthquake was certainly not where we expected it must have been. Hopefully everyone is ok and there is no significant damages anywhere".

The quake was felt strongly in Hastings. One woman said the carpark was "rolling underneath me at Countdown".

"Christchurch hospital rocked and rolled like a boat for what seemed like ages," said Alesha Boon.

A woman at Ashcott Homestead in Central Hawke's Bay said she felt the quake hit. "We live in a 160 year old Homestead which felt like it was rolling on ocean waves (I climbed under the kitchen table just in case!)"

Despite the quake being centred about 35km south-west of Taumarunui, Ruapehu District Council Don Cameron said he didn't feel it.

He said he had checked the council building and there was no sign of damage.

He also had not heard of damage elsewhere in the town but was set to go for a drive to chat to others and have a closer look.

"Some people felt it but others like me didn't at all," he said.

"No one had to dive under a desk or anything like that – it wasn't that sort of quake."