A magnitude 5.2 earthquake has hit the lower South Island.

The quake occurred 35km north-west of Te Anau on Saturday, at a depth of 102km.

It was detected at 3:23pm, and felt as far north as the Bay of Plenty.

There were more than 1400 felt reports submitted on GeoNet. Most people reported feeling weak or light shaking.

"These deep earthquakes are typically widely felt," GeoNet wrote on Facebook on Saturday afternoon.

"Remember to Drop, Cover and Hold if you feel shaking, and know your tsunami evacuation route if you live near the coast."

Two weeks ago, a magnitude 5.9 quake struck near Te Anau, sparking an evacuation notice for some areas of the West Coast, which was later cancelled.