New Zealand is rattled by a massive 5.7 magnitude earthquake

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has reacted on live television to a 5.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Wellington on Monday morning.

The earthquake was centred 30km northwest of Levin – an hour’s drive from the nation’s capital.

It was recorded at a depth of 50km.

Ms Ardern was being interviewed live from the government building dubbed ‘the Beehive’ on Channel Three when the quake hit.

‘We’re just having a bit of an earthquake here … quite a decent shake here. If you see things moving behind me,’ she said. 

‘The Beehive moves a little more than most.

‘It’s just stopped. No, we’re fine. I’m not under any hanging lights, I look like I’m in a structurally sound place.’

Before the earthquake struck, Ms Ardern had been talking about her fiance Clarke Gayford building a new shed. 

According to Geonet the shake was felt as far as Gisborne, on the North Island, all the way down to the bottom of the South Island. 

Two small aftershocks also struck the area, the first was a 3.5-magnitude quake, followed a 3.7-magnitude shake.

‘That was a long and jerky rumble – things are still shaking at ours in Wellington – cats and dog all reacted,’ one person wrote on Twitter.

‘Slept through my alarm, but an earthquake will certainly wake you up,’ another person wrote.

‘Horrifying waking up to a big earthquake, great alarm clock though I’m super awake now,’ said another.

‘Do you think Jacinda felt that and thought ‘you’ve got to be f***ing kidding me”,’ wrote another. 

Another Twitter user, Jords, compared the quake with coronavirus.

‘I believe after earthquake and plague, the next one is frogs #EQNZ,’ he wrote.

Horowhenua District Mayor Bernie Wanden said staff were checking infrastructure for any damage.

Wellington City Council said there have been no immediate reports of damage.