Strong earthquake hits New Zealand’s North Island

A MAGNITUDE 6.2 earthquake has struck New Zealand's North Island, prompting the suspension of parliament.

Residents across the capital Wellington, the city of New Plymouth and across much of the central country were rattled by the 207km-deep tremor on Tuesday afternoon.

It was centred 25km southwest of Taumarunui and described as strong, according to GeoNet.

New Zealand's parliament, sitting at the time, was briefly suspended after the prolonged rumble to allow for the precinct's buildings to be checked.

Tens of thousands of people across the middle of the country, including large parts of the South Island, reported feeling the shaking, witnesses describing the length of the rolling quake as unusual.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said there had been no immediate reports of damage and there is no tsunami risk, according to Civil Defence.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry and wife Meghan had engagements on Tuesday in Auckland where some people said they felt some shaking.

However, they missed the brunt of the shaking by just a day, having been farther down the country on Monday.

Residents are being warned to expect aftershocks.