A strong earthquake has shaken central New Zealand, disrupting traffic and sending office workers scrambling for cover in the capital, Belfast Telegraph said.

Some buildings in Wellington were evacuated and items were knocked off shelves in places. Police are trying to verify reports that one house near the quake's centre was severely damaged. There were no initial reports of injuries.

The magnitude 6.8 quake struck just after 2.30pm local time near the South Island town of Seddon and was followed by a series of smaller aftershocks.

Boulders fell onto State Highway 1, the major route for traffic near Seddon, said police spokeswoman Barbara Dunn. She said she was trying to verify reports that one home in Seddon had been severely damaged.

The US Geological Survey said the epicentre was 58 miles west of Wellington at a depth of six miles.

Local authorities issued no tsunami warnings.

A quake of a similar strength in the same area three weeks ago broke water mains, smashed windows and downed power lines.

A severe earthquake in the city of Christchurch in 2011 killed 185 people and destroyed much of the city's centre.