[5] It was felt strongly down the country, from Auckland in the north to Dunedin in the south, and more than 9,000 reports were submitted by the public to GeoNet, the geological hazards monitoring network.

The earthquake caused damage to walls and chimneys,[6] cracks in roads to form, rockfall to occur at cliffs, power outages to about 5,600 homes[7] and the giant hanging eagle in Wellington Airport to fall to the ground.

[9] Roads were closed in the lower North Island,[6] and freight and commuter rail was stopped.

Minor to moderate damage was also reported in Eketāhuna, Wellington, Masterton, Carterton, Kāpiti Coast, Pahiatua, Levin and Ōtaki.

[8] Hokowhitu Lagoon in Palmerston North is thought to have suffered water-bed damage leading to water leaking.