A large 5.9 magnitude earthquake rocked Taupo and was felt throughout the North Island early this morning. The magnitude 5.9 quake struck at 4.02 am, 30km north of Taupo, at a depth of 150km, GNS Science reported. The quake was widely felt throughout the North Island with reports it was felt as far north as Auckland and as far south as the Marlborough Sounds. The quake followed a 3.5 magnitude quake at 6.19pm yesterday, centred 40km east of Taupo at a depth of 5km. There were no reports of damage from this morning's shake.

While some people reported on social media that they heard the quake coming and it was strong enough to get them out of bed, Taupo mayor Rick Cooper was unaware of the quake until contacted by the Waikato Times. ''The lake's calm, people are drinking coffeee, the buildings all look like they're in one piece. The first person who's told me about it is you,'' he said as he drove through the town early today.