New Zealand’s parliament was briefly evacuated on Tuesday after the nation’s North Island was struck by a powerful earthquake.
There were no reports of any major damage or injuries following the 6.1-magnitude tremor, which centred roughly 150 miles north of Wellington.
The quake was felt in the city, including in the New Zealand parliament, where lawmakers left the house for around 30 minutes after acting speaker Anne Tolley suspended proceedings.
Civil defence minister, Kris Faafoi, warned those in the area to remain cautious and vigilant for possible aftershocks.
“It's obviously given people a bit of a shake,” he said. “So just make sure people look after each other and remember those basic lessons around safety.”
The tremor took place near the volcanically active region of Tongariro National Park. Mr Faafoi said he wasn't aware of any increase in volcanic activity as a result of the quake.
Thousands of people across the country felt the quake, many as far away as the South Island.
However, with the epicentre almost 150 miles underground, the incident was less damaging than similar seismic activity closer to the surface.
The tremor did not disrupt an event around 155 miles north of the epicentre in Auckland, which was being attended by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, who are currently on a four-day tour of the country, were visiting a charity that helps the children of prisoners at the time the earthquake struck.
Those who had been attending the event with the royal couple said they were not able to feel the quake.
New Zealand sits on the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanic activity are common.
Additional reporting by AP
