New Zealand's South Island rocked by 'severe' earthquake

• The quake struck 35km north of the Canterbury town of Methven at 6.48am
• Emergency services have not yet had any damage reports
• More than 2000 people have reported feeling the quake
• There have reportedly been more than 20 aftershocks so far

By Sarah Dean for Daily Mail Australia Follow @@sarahhdean and Aap

Published: 15:38 EST, 5 January 2015 | Updated: 16:32 EST, 5 January 2015

A strong 6.4 magnitude earthquake has reportedly struck New Zealand’s South Island with thousands of people feeling its impact.

GeoNet said the quake struck 35km north of the Canterbury town of Methven at about 6.48am on Tuesday, but both police and the Fire Service say they have not yet had any damage reports.

More than 2000 people have reported feeling the quake, some as far away as the North Island, GeoNet said.

The website reported there have been more than 20 aftershocks so far following the first earthquake, with the strongest reaching a magnitude of 4.2.

This map shows the location of the quake in red, 35km north of the Canterbury town of Methven, along with some of the places the jolt was felt

The quake's epicentre was outside of the remote town of Methven and Winterslow Range Mid Canterbury

More than 2000 people have reported feeling the quake from the epicentre (red dot) some as far away as the North Island

The quake’s epicentre was about 100 kilometres west of Christchurch, the ABC reports.

Christchurch suffered a devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake that killed 185 people in 2011.

Buildings continued to collapse for hours after the quake struck because of aftershocks and witnesses said the ground 'moved like a wave'. Horrified, they saw buildings full of people crumble.

The quake was the country's deadliest natural disaster for 80 years.

An aerial view of the valley where the earthquake was felt near Methven on Tuesday

Back in 2011: Firefighters and office workers try to extinguish a fire and rescue trapped victims at the CTV building on Madras Street in central Christchurch after a 6.3 earthquake on February 22, 2011

This photo from the Christchurch quake shows a devastated woman at Cashel Mall in central Christchurch

A collapsed building covered parked cars in the aftermath of the 2011 quake

Crowds gathered in Cathedral Square in central Christchurch after the 6.3 earthquake on February 22, 2011

One witness to the quake, who is staying in Castle Hill, about 15km from the epicentre, told Nine News: ‘We were in bed when it happened and it lasted for about 15-20 seconds.’

One Twitter user, Martha Craig, wrote: 'Here at Kowai Bush near the earthquake’s centre. We’re fine, didn’t feel violent enough to break anything.'

'Nothing fell. Mind you we’re in the most charming bach and cocooned like babies. No more earthquakes now please,' she added.

Due to continuing collision between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates, New Zealand - part of a geographic are named the Pacific ‘Ring Of Fire’ - records more than 14,000 earthquakes a year.

However, only about 150 are felt by residents and fewer than ten a year do any damage.