A moderate 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of New Zealand Sunday, geologists said, but there were no reports of casualties or damage.

The US Geological Survey said the epicentre was about 148 kilometres (92 miles) northeast of Rotorua and 223 km east of Auckland.

The quake, which struck at 5:38 am (1738 GMT Saturday) was located around 184 km below sea level.

The USGS earlier gave the quake a magnitude of 5.4 and a depth of 34 km at a point 118 km east-northeast of Auckland and 148 km northeast of Rotorua.

No tsunami warning was issued.

Earthquakes and volcanic activity are common in the area, which is part of the "Ring of Fire" where the Pacific plate of the earth's crust meets other continental plates.