A strong 4.9 magnitude earthquake has rattled central New Zealand.
The quake at 11.10am on Thursday was at a depth of 16 kilometres and centred 30 kilometres east of Seddon.
There have been more than 2000 aftershocks since the 6.5-magnitude earthquake in Cook Strait on 21 July, and of those 66 have been greater than magnitude 4.
GNS seismologist Dr Caroline Holden says large aftershocks can still be expected, and there is an up to 6% chance of a quake above magnitude 6, and a 47% chance of a magnitude 5 or greater.
