NEW ZEALAND — A 6.7 earthquake hit off the coast of New Zealand. According to USGS, the earthquake hit around 2:43 p.m. on Tuesday, local time. USGS reports the earthquake was 10 km deep, 159 km from Riverton, New Zealand at the southwestern end of the South Island.

The tremor– initially recorded at a 7.0 magnitude– hit at 2:43 pm local time (0143 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) off the southwest tip of the country’s South Island

Fears of a tsunami rocking New Zealand have arisen after a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the country's South Island earlier today. The powerful tremor hit at 2.42pm local time on Tuesday - shortly before 2am in the UK.