Quake felt throughout the country

6:01 pm on 4 September 2010

The major quake that struck near Christchurch early on Saturday has been felt widely throughout New Zealand.

Emergency services in many centres were inundated with calls in the 7.1-magnitude quake's aftermath.

A northern fire communications spokesperson in Auckland says they are being kept busy as people in the lower North Island have been calling in to report burst water pipes.

The quake was felt in Wellington as a rolling motion which lasted for about 40 seconds.

In Southland, residents say the quake was felt there with blinds swinging and a swaying motion that woke them.