Civil defence in New Zealand has issued a tsunami warning after a major earthquake hit the Kermadec Islands region in the north.
The US Geological Service reported that the quake struck at 22:55 GMT at a depth of 34.4 kilometres.
The Kermadec Islands, which are located about 800-1000 kilometres northeast of New Zealand's North Island, are uninhabited apart from Raoul Island Station. The post includes a government meteorological and radio station and hostel for Department of Conservation officers as well as volunteers.
A 7.2-magnitude earthquake is considered extremely major according to the Richter scale. Such earthquakes can usually be felt across great distances and cause damage to most buildings, often resulting in severe issues or complete collapse.