A magnitude 5.2 earthquake rocked Picton on Sunday afternoon.
While GeoNet describes the shaking at 3:14pm as light, more than 35 people reported feeling strong tremors during the seismic activity.
Jolts were felt in Wellington, New Plymouth, Nelson and Kapiti, as well as other surrounding localities.
Many took to social media to describe their experiences.
"Really felt it. Had things shaking. Woke me up from my nap!" wrote one Wellington resident.
"Bit of a shake in the city!" said another.
A Mahau Sound local described it as "shakey", and a Masterton resident said she felt it as well.
The earthquake was 97km deep and located 25km to the north-west of Picton.
It was followed by a weak earthquake 20 km north-west of Porangahau.
Newshub.
