Whoompah!

We've just felt a very strong and very long earthquake. Initial reports from Geonet are of a magnitude 6.5 'quake at a depth of 17km; stronger than the 6.3 Christchurch 'quake of 22 February 2013, but a little deeper.

There are already some reports coming in of damage in and around Wellington, and Wellington Airport is currently closed. There have already been several aftershocks including a 5.5 magnitude jolt just a couple of minutes ago.

Here's how Geonet recorded the 'quake:

To those directly affected; hang in there. The earthquake was bad enough up here on our Wanganui hilltop that we wouldn't have wanted to be any closer to the epicentre. We'll have updates as they come to hand.


UPDATE: Here's a few images from the web:
 

Damage to the wharves at Centreport in Wellington

Fallen masonry in Featherson Street

The librarians at Victoria University's law library have some work ahead of them