A magnitude 4.2 earthquake shook the Wellington region shortly after midnight, with residents in reporting a sudden jolt that interrupted their sleep.
GeoNet confirmed the quake struck at 12.16am on Monday, centred 5km north of Upper Hutt at a depth of 20km. The shaking was described as moderate and brief, though noticeable across the lower North Island.
Many locals took to social media within minutes of the quake. Several Porirua residents described hearing the tremor before feeling it, likening the sound to a “boom” or the distant roar of a small aircraft.
“I heard it coming, followed by a strong thump. Thankfully it didn’t last long,” said one Facebook user. Another commented, “It sounded like a light aircraft and a loud scooter exiting with background rumbling. The shake was short but decent, with a mild to moderate jolt.”
While some were startled awake, others slept through the event entirely.
There have been no reports of damage or injury, and emergency services have not been called to respond. Earthquakes of this size are relatively common in the region and serve as a reminder of New Zealand’s seismic activity.
GeoNet encourages residents to report their experiences online to help monitor and understand quake patterns throughout the country.