Geonet has reported that a magnitude 5.5 earthquake has struck off the east coast of the Coromandel peninsula tonight.

The earthquake struck on Saturday evening at 8.18pm, 105km north-east of Whangamata, at a depth of 309km.

It was felt widely along the east coast of the North Island, lower North Island and around Nelson and Picton, with over 1500 people reporting they felt the quake.

About 1100 said they felt 'weak' shaking.

Image: Geonet

On December 15, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck 50km north west of Te Kaha at a depth of 133km. Prior to that a magnitude 5.4 quake struck at 12.58pm on December 10, 20km south of Gisborne at a depth of 29km; and a magnitude 5.9 quake struck on November 24, 50km north-west of Te Kaha at a depth of 115km.