The large earthquake which struck off the East Cape in New Zealand this morning increases the chance of other big earthquakes striking near the region, GNS is warning.
The 7.1-magnitude quake has already been followed by a magnitude 6.2 aftershock and there will be more, GNS warns.
The first quake struck at 4.40am and was 130km north-east of Te Araroa and 55km deep. Since then there have been dozens of aftershocks.
Civil Defence earlier issued a tsunami warning, which has now been cancelled.
GNS Science seismologist Bill Fry said there was an increased chance of other big earthquakes striking near the region.
"We would expect a continuing sequence of magnitude fives, magnitude fours to happen in relatively the same location, with that activity spreading out over distance in the coming days and weeks," Dr Fry said.
"And everywhere around this earthquake, right now, we know that there's an increased likelihood of other large earthquakes."
The tremor was one of the most significant New Zealand had had for some time, he said.
Another large earthquake could trigger another tsunami threat, he said.
GNS scientist Anna Kaiser said the initial quake would have been felt fairly strongly by people in the area. GNS had received "felt" reports from across the North Island, she said.
With large quakes like the first jolt it was typical to get "low-frequency energy generated" which resulted in the "long-rolling motion" people had reported feeling.
Tsunami threat over
The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) said based on all available data, the greatest tsunami activity had passed.
The tsunami warning had applied to the north coast of the North Island, including Northland, Auckland, Waikato/Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and the East Coast down to Mahia Peninsula.
An earlier warning that included the upper South Island and the rest of the North Island east coast had been lifted earlier this morning.
Coasts may still experience unusual, strong currents and sea level fluctuations lasting for several more hours, the Ministry said.
Civil Defence's warning said waves measuring 30cm high were initially measured at the East Cape and Great Barrier tide gauges.
It had not received any reports of injuries or damage from the earthquake or waves.
Gisborne Civil Defence said people who lived on the coast could return to their homes, after earlier being told to leave, but must stay away from beaches and waterways. Should they feel another long or strong quake, they should again head for higher ground or as far inland as possible.
KiwiRail issued a precautionary shutdown notice for part of Auckland's rail network, briefly closing Britomart Station and the lines to Newmarket.
They had now reopened but it was causing a run-on effect and disruptions for other lines.
Civil Defence public information officer Sheridan Gundry said the emergency management centre had been activated.
Several schools in Gisborne will be closed for the day, despite the warning being lifted.
Tolaga Bay Area School and Waikirikiri School told RNZ they would stay closed because of how close they were to the coast.
Erana Keelan-Reedy, from Radio Ngati Porou, said Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti was also closed.
Waves arrived quickly
GNS seismologist Bill Fry said the proximity of the earthquake to New Zealand meant everything had happened fast.
"It's quite a quick wave train ... and the waves have decayed - the largest waves have come and gone."
Tsunami waves were not small, cresting waves that broke on the beach, but "a very, very rapid rise in sea level", Dr Fry said.
It was difficult to compare the situation to other recent tsunami warnings because those warnings had been generated by large earthquakes in the distant Pacific.
"It happened very locally and it means the waves hit much more quickly," he said.
"We have much less analysis and much less information than we would if it was travelling a long distance."
People wake to 'wobbling' earthquake
People have described the shaking as a north to south wobbling movement or a low growling rumble then a vibration.
The lines company for Gisborne, Wairoa and the East Coast says the quake caused two power outages in the region.
Eastland Network says the outages were near Rototahi and Waimata but power has since been restored to the 300 affected homes.
Meanwhile police and the fire service say there has been no reports of any damage yet.
RNZ listeners reported feeling the quake as far south as Akaroa and as far North as Kerikeri in Northland.
Lindsay in Whakatane said the quake woke him up and he took cover.
"Finally I ended up getting up and taking cover under doorways and whatever. We had things like sliding doors rattling on their tracks and one item fell off a shelf," he said.
It followed a smaller 5.7 earthquake which hit the area about 10am yesterday.