An earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale struck New Zealand North Island's Gisborne area early Monday.

The quake occurred at 5:01 a.m. local time (16:01 GMT Sunday) and was centered 30 km southeast of Gisborne at a depth of 40 km, New Zealand's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Science reported.

NS Science said the tremor was likely to have been felt in the Gisborne region.