Quake shakes central New Zealand

A strong earthquake shook central New Zealand today, disrupting traffic and sending office workers scrambling for cover in the capital.
Some buildings in Wellington were evacuated, and items were knocked off shelves in places. Police were trying to verify reports that one house near the quake's centrer was severely damaged.
There were no initial reports of injuries.
The magnitude 6.8 quake struck just after 2:30 p.M. Near the South Island town of Seddon, followed by a series of smaller aftershocks.
Boulders fell onto State Highway 1, the major route for traffic near Seddon, said police spokeswoman Barbara Dunn. She said she was trying to verify reports that one home in Seddon had been severely damaged.

The US Geological Survey said the epicentre was 94 kilometres west of Wellington at a depth of 10 kilometres. Local authorities issued no tsunami warnings.