NEW ZEALAND EARTH QUAKE UPDATES Cluster of earthquakes strikes New Zealand sparking a brief tsunami warning as tremors are felt across the country An earthquake near New Zealand has sparked a tsunami risk for the country The Ministry of Civil Defence issued the warning but minutes later quashed it A series of shakes were also felt across both islands around the same time A cluster of earthquake has been felt across New Zealand, raising brief fears of a tsunami. An earthquake struck around 4.19pm(NZT) on Monday. The magnitude 6.7 quake happened 785 km north-east of Whakatane, south of Kermadec Islands, according to GeoNet. The Ministry of Civil Defence warned the 130 km deep earthquake could create a tsunami that could affect New Zealand.