New Zealand shaken by 6.0 magnitude earthquake

The magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near Wanaka (pictured) in New Zealand's South Island

    

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake has struck near Wanaka in New Zealand.

Buildings in Wanaka and Queenstown were reportedly swaying when the quake hit but there are no reports of damage or casualties.

The quake, located 30km northwest of the town, struck at 2.29pm (local time). It was at a depth of 5km and its intensity was 'severe', GeoNet reports. By late Monday afternoon GeoNet had reviewed the quake to a 'moderate' intensity one.

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The South Island town of Wanaka is about a 50 minute drive from Queenstown. A second and lighter shake followed 10 minutes later. It was located 20km west of Wanaka at a depth of 11km and was a magnitude 3.4.

GeoNet said the the earthquake was not related to one that occurred on April 17 measuring 6.2, that hit Kaikoura in the Nelson region in the South Island.

Radio New Zealand reports that Kieren Drabble, who used to live in Wellington, witnessed the quake.

'It's certainly one of the biggest I can remember,' he said.

'It wasn't really sharp, just very, very rolly. It just seemed to go and go and go. I moved out of Wellington to get away from earthquakes.'

Leungo Lippe from BoaBoa Food Company, which is situated on Ardmore Street facing the lake, said there was no panic when the quake struck.

'It was a mild shake - there's not too many people about,' he told AAP.

The Soutland Times reports that 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.'