Powerful earthquake rocks New Zealand’s North Island

Authorities have ruled out a tsunami threat after a powerful 6.7 magnitude earthquake shook the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island.

The quake was felt around 11.30am local time and was centred at sea nearly 200 kilometres from the eastern North Island city of Gisborne, the US Geological Survey said.

The Ministry of Civil Defence said there was no tsunami threat to New Zealand.

The Bureau of Meteorology said there was no immediate tsunami threat to Australia.

There have been no reports of damage, the NZ Herald reported.

Additional reporting by AFP