I am accumulating some links and thoughts with respect to the earthquake M7.8 - 53km NNE of Amberley, New Zealand. Magnitude and depth were increasing as the seismologists reviewed the seismograms.
The magnitude and depth (as long as it does not get much deeper) would be consistent a rupture on the Hope Fault. The location and to some degree the focal mechanism would be more consistent with one of the thrust faults further to the west. Reports are coming in that there is a tsunami that was generated and is hitting the coast already.
Here is a mashup of GNS faults with the USGS location, shaking estimates, and focal mechanism as of 12:30 UTC:
Links (some coming from twitter feed, including Austin Elliott:GNS site for the eventGNS blog entryWellington tide gaugeUSGS site for the eventGNS active faults databaseGEOFON Potsdam GFZ page News links:Radio NZ live updatesStuff NZ itemBBC item
