A moderate magnitude 5.8 earthquake rattled New Zealand's central North Island on Monday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injury.

The quake hit at 1:21 p.m. (0121 GMT) and was centered about 6 miles (10 kilometers) southeast of Turangi near Lake Taupo, an active volcanic area, geological agency GNS Science reported on its Web site.

The temblor hit some 50 miles (80 kilometers) below the Earth's surface, the agency said.

"We didn't even feel it," Taupo police receptionist Raewyn Barr told The Associated Press.

She said there had been no calls reporting the quake or any damage.

New Zealand sits above an area of the Earth's crust where the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates collide. More than 14,000 earthquakes are recorded in the area each year, but only about 150 are felt by residents. Fewer than 10 a year do any damage.