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Wellington: A tsunami warning was issued after an earthquake, measuring 7.1 on the Richter Scale, hit Zealand's North Island on Friday, the media reported. The quake hit around 100 km northeast of the East Cape settlement of Te Araroa, at a depth of 55 km, The New Zealand Herald reported.

A potential tsunami threat was upgraded to a warning by Civil Defence officials shortly after 6 a.m. (local time) after the quake hit at 4.37 a.m. "Tsunami activity will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this warning is cancelled," Civil Defence said in a statement.