A severe 7.1 earthquake struck off the East Cape in the early hours of this morning at 2.27 am.
The epicentre was 105 kilometers east of te Araroa at a depth of 90 kilometres.
A tsunami warning was issued by National Emergency Management Agency saying coastal flooding was expected in the East Coast of the North Island from Cape Runaway to Tolaga Bay.
That has subsequently been withdrawn.
Chris Beard runs the Four Square store at Tokomaru Bay.
He spoke to Phil Pennington.
