© Tamaryn Peddie
Driveway cracks after the earthquake in Unsworth Heights North Shore.
A "moderate" 3.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Auckland today was the biggest in the city since February 2007, GeoNet says.
The tremor, which struck at 4.05pm, was five kilometres deep and was centred near Motatapu Island, 15 kms north-east of the city.
GeoNet described its intensity as "moderate".
"It's
quite rare to get any felt events in Auckland, but occasionally we do have some like this," said duty officer Nico Fournier.
He said the earthquake did not indicate an increase in volcanic activity under New Zealand's biggest city, which is dotted with volcanoes.
"Because we have volcanoes in Auckland and then we had this earthquake it doesn't mean the two are related. There is no indication of that."
Further earthquakes were possible, he said.
"Usually when you get earthquakes there are aftershocks, so certainly in the next hours or days there is a possibility of further small earthquakes, but right now it's looking pretty calm.
"There's no indication that it will be the case, but we can't exclude it."
Fire Service spokesman Jaron Phillips said the northern communications centre fielded calls about the quake from across Auckland.
