A central Wellington street has been closed after a large sinkhole opened.
Wellington City Council spokesperson Richard MacLean says the 3 metre deep hole has appeared in Hobson Street, Thorndon.
Mr MacLean says the council suspects the hole is the result of a 19th century brick water main slowly collapsing over recent months, causing the ground above it to collapse.
He says it may have been exacerbated by the recent earthquakes in Wellington.