A magnitude 4.4 earthquake was recorded in the lower North Island at 2.35am on Sunday.
GeoNet reported it was centred 30km southwest of Whanganui at a depth of 34km.
AAP says residents in Whanganui and from Taupo to Wellington reported on GeoNet's Facebook page of being woken by the tremor, which rumbled for several seconds and finished with a jolt.
