A severe earthquake that rocked New Zealand’s South Island on Monday has been revised down to a magnitude-5.8.

The quake, centred 30km northwest of Wanaka, struck just before 2.30pm local time on Monday.

It was just 4km deep and its intensity has been described as ‘severe’ by GeoNet.

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A magnitude-3.5 aftershock was recorded shortly afterwards.

Police said there were a small number of buildings that sustained broken windows, but no major incidents had been reported to emergency services.

Buildings in Queenstown and Wanaka were swaying for several seconds, reports said.

The quake had been widely felt across the South Island with more than 3000 reports submitted to GeoNet’s website.

Wanaka real estate agent Harry Briggs said he ran from his first floor office in Helwick Street.

“I wasn’t staying in the building,” Mr Briggs told stuff.co.nz.

He said most people in the Wanaka shopping mall fled to the safety of the street outside.

The earthquake was the largest he had felt for five or six years.

“It was quite strong and sharp. It lasted for about 30 seconds,” Mr Briggs said.

Wanaku is located on NZ’s South Island. Photo: Google Maps

Police advise there have been a small number of broken windows but no major reported incidents after the earthquake near Wanaka. #eqnz

— Hamish Clark (@Hamish_Clark) May 4, 2015

Scary shaking on 3rd floor of FB stadium in dunedin, hope Central Otago is ok #eqnz

— VeroniqueO (@VeroniqueO) May 4, 2015

– with AAP