WELLINGTON - A 7.0-MAGNITUDE earthquake struck the remote Kermadec islands north of New Zealand on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey reported, but experts said there was no risk of a tsunami.

The epicentre of the quake, recorded at 6.24pm (0624 GMT, 2.24pm Singapore time), was 217km from Raoul Island and at a depth of 35km.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said a 'destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected,' adding there was no threat to Hawaii, where the centre is based.

Earthquakes and volcanic activity are common in the Kermadec islands area, which is part of the 'Ring of Fire,' where the Pacific plate of the earth's crust meets other continental plates.

In the past three months, tremors of 7.3, 6.5 and 6.0 have been recorded in the area, 1,000km north of New Zealand.

The Kermadec islands are uninhabited apart from Raoul, where New Zealand's Department of Conservation maintains a field station.

Two years ago, a conservation worker was killed on Raoul Island when he was caught in a mudflow after a volcano erupted during an earthquake swarm. -- AFP