New Zealand rocked by 6.8 quake

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake off New Zealand's east coast rocked much of mainland New Zealand on Thursday, emergency officials said.

No immediate tsunami warning was triggered at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii by the offshore temblor. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The quake, centered in the Hikurangi undersea trench off North Island hit at 8:55 p.m. local time (0755 GMT) and occurred 40 kilometers (25 miles) below the surface, the GNS Science geological agency reported.

It said the quake was located at sea some 50 kilometers (30 miles) southeast of the coastal city of Gisborne.

"We have got a lot of damage and are still assessing the situation," police inspector Wata Shepherd said shortly after the quake cut power to the city's business district.

"Some roofs have collapsed, we are still trying to ascertain the amount of damage (to the city) but we have no injuries," he told the AP. E-mail to a friend

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