Residents of Wellington and Marlborough reported feeling a mild jolt at 5:35 a.m. local time.
The shaking was also reported by people in Nelson on the Kapiti Coast, according to local media.
The country’s GeoNet seismic agency said the 4.8 magnitude tremor was centered 19 miles (30 km) north of French Pass at a depth of 68 miles (110 km).