A severe earthquake has shaken the Wellington region this afternoon.

After its initial report, GNS reported on its website that the quake was 6.2, and only 8km deep, 10km southeast of Seddon, near the coast in Marlborough.

The large quake has been followed by a series of aftershocks.

There were reports of a house collapsing in Nelson after the quake.

Wellington had also lost cellphone coverage.

Ambulance central communications said they had yet to receive any calls related to the earthquake.

TranzMetro said it had immediately stopped all train services in the capital.

Wellington's railway station had been evacuated.

No tsunami threat has been issued.

A fire communications spokesman said so far there had been no reports of damage in Wellington, just alarm activations around the city. There is also one person stuck in a lift.

There were reports power was cut in the suburb of Karori.

Twitter users said they felt the quake as far away as Auckland and Christchurch.

Cellphone coverage is out in Wellington. All Tranzmetro services are currently suspended

Reports posted by Twitter users said the quake was bigger than the last one that rocked the Capital in July.

Followed by some large after shocks, 5.7, 4.4, 5.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.5 and 5.1 as at 3.00pm