Bouganville

Mr Ahern, speaking after receiving the Referendum Writ from the Papua New Governor General, Sir Bob Dadae, yesterday, said he hoped it will be a continuation of an almost twenty year peace process.

Bougainvilleans are to vote on whether to become independent or have greater autonomy within PNG.

The undersea quake struck at 3.19am local time (5.19am NZ time), at a depth of 30.6 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said.

Its epicentre was 94 kilometres southwest of the Bougainville town of Panguna. The island sits to the northwest of the Solomon Islands. 

The impact of the quake wasn't immediately known.