There were no reports of major damage or injury after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Taranaki last night. 

The quake was felt from Canterbury to the Bay of Plenty, but most strongly in Wellington, where some people fled buildings.

GeoNet service reported the quake struck at 10.36pm, 70km off the coast of Opunake and 170km north-west of Wellington.

It lastest around 30 seconds.

The quake's depth (230km) meant there was no tsunami risk.

There were reports of minor property damage in Whanganui.

On Twitter, long-time central Wellington resident David Farrar said, "F*** that was a shaker. I made it down ten floors in around 45 seconds. First time I have felt need to evacuate my building."

The corrider was shaking from side to side as he evacuated, said the National Party pollster, whose apartment building has base isolators.

Get through
This morning, Mr Farrar told NBR, "Even though we have all become more sensitive to earthquakes since the Canterbury quakes, this is the first time I have actually been fearful for the stability of the building I was in as the shaking was so strong and prolonged."

He added, "I'm off to increase my stock of tinned salmon emergency supplies."