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A powerful earthquake has struck New Zealand’s North Island, which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are visiting on their royal tour.
The 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit near Taumarunui on Tuesday afternoon. The centre of the quake was about 280km south of Auckland, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are visiting.
New Zealand’s Parliament was suspended after the quake, and more than 15,000 people reported feeling it.
The tremor was one of the largest felt in the country since a 7.8 magnitude quake struck near Kaikoura in the South Island in November 2016, killing two.
Authorities are warning people to be prepared for aftershocks.
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A powerful earthquake has struck New Zealand ‘s North Island, which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern) are visiting on their royal tour
The 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit near Taumarunui. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are visiting Auckland about 280km north
The tremor was one of the largest felt in the country since a 7.8 magnitude quake struck near Kaikoura in the South Island in November 2016, killing two
The earthquake was reported as ‘strong’ and ‘widely felt’ by GeoNet, with a depth of 193km.
People reported feeling the quake in Christchurch on the South Island, which is 800km away.
The earthquake forced at least two planes to abort their scheduled landings in Wellington.
Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi warned people to be prepared for aftershocks.
Mr Faafoi said he was unsure if the royals had been affected.
Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence recommended people affected by the shaking should ‘drop and hold on tight’.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex started their day in Redvale, on Auckland’s North Shore, where they dedicated a 20-hectare area of native bush to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, which conserves indigenous forests for future generations.
Prince Harry and Meghan were later joined by local schoolchildren in planting trees at the site. The Duchess planted a Kōwhai tree – the flower of which was one of 53 on the veil of her wedding dress.
The earthquake forced at least two planes to abort their scheduled landings in Wellington
People took to Twitter to report feeling the earthquake after it hit on Tuesday
The royal couple were then handed the task of leading their own team of students in a ‘welly-wanging’ contest.
Meghan’s team emerged victorious against her husband’s in the contest, which saw competitors throw a Wellington boot as far as they could.
The next engagement for the Duke and Duchess was a visit to Pillars, ‘a charity for children of prisoners’ operating across New Zealand. They were joined by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for the occasion.
Meghan and Harry will later visit central Auckland for a meet-and-greet with local residents before attending a reception at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex started their day in Redvale, on Auckland’s North Shore, where they dedicated a 20-hectare area of native bush to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy
Members of Parliament said they felt the full force of the quake.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said people should check on those around them to make sure they are not hurt.
MP Deoborah Russell said it ‘seemed to go on forever’, while Louise Upton said it was the ‘longest one I’ve felt’ in the chamber.
Deputy speaker Anne Tolley made the call to suspend parliament.
‘I never thought I’d have to do that, suspend the House until we find out what’s happened,’ she told Radio New Zealand.
‘There were public in the galleries and people need to just make sure their staff are OK. I mean we’re in the safest building probably in the country – but just to make sure and get some advice.’
Meghan and Harry will later visit central Auckland for a meet-and-greet with local residents before attending a reception at the Auckland War Memorial Museum
A spokesman for Wellington Fire and Emergency said there had been no reports of injuries or serious damage.
After initial reports the earthquake’s severity was downgraded to a magnitude 6.2.
New Zealand Civil Defence confirmed there is no tsunami threat to the country after the earthquake.
The tremor was likely caused by bending tectonic plates, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Victoria University Professor John Townend said he believed the earthquake was caused by the contorting of the Pacific plate as it grinded against the Australian plate.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly unaffected by the quake.
Meghan’s team emerged victorious against her husband’s in a gumboot-throwing contest, which saw competitors throw a Wellington boot as far as they could
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