Earthquake off New Zealand

WELLINGTON, Oct 17 (AFP) - An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale struck off New Zealand's northeast coast Sunday, the Geological and Nuclear Sciences' data centre reported.
The quake occurred around 9.00am (1600 GMT Saturday), at a depth of 250 kilometres (155 miles) and about 40 kilometres east of the North Island coastal town of Tauranga.
There were no reports of onshore damage.