Christchurch shaken by earthquake

A strong 4.3 magnitude earthquake has shaken the New Zealand city of Christchurch in the early hours of the morning.

Source: Google Maps

Hundreds of New Zealand residents have been woken by a strong 4.3 magnitude earthquake just south of Christchurch.

The quake struck at a depth of 5km at about 3.30am (1.30am AEDT) on Monday, according to Geonet.

Hundreds of residents reported feeling the earthquake, with descriptions ranging from damaging and strong to just a light shake.

It was felt widely across the region and there were also reports from people in Wellington and Dunedin.