6.2 magnitude earthquake strikes off East Coast

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake has struck off the East Coast.

The quake had a depth of 22km and Geonet has described the shaking intensity as moderate.

It hit at 7.37pm, about 120km east of Te Araroa.

People as far afield as Auckland and the South Island have reported feeling it.

A resident of Ōhope in the eastern Bay of Plenty said she felt shaking and her light shades were swinging.

Another person camping in the area described it as a “freaky feeling”.

“We are camping in Ōhope and my friend and I felt our chairs sway side to side,” Shara said.

“We knew it must be an earthquake. What a freaky feeling.”