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NEW Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern appeared unflustered when an earthquake rattled a studio during a live television interview this morning.

Jacinda Ardern interrupted Newshub host Ryan Bridge to tell him what was happening at the parliament complex in New Zealand's capital, Wellington.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern She reassured viewers during the quake that lasted 30 seconds
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reassured viewers during the quake that lasted 30 secondsCredit: Newshub
Unshaken...Ms Ardern was being interviewed live from the government building dubbed 'the Beehive' on channel Three when it hit
Unshaken...Ms Ardern was being interviewed live from the government building dubbed 'the Beehive' on channel Three when it hit

Jacinda Ardern, who became prime minister in 2017, is hugely popular in New Zealand for her handling of several crises — a mass shooting in Christchurch last year, a deadly volcanic eruption in December and the recent coronavirus pandemic.

Wellington and nearby areas were shaken by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake with the epicentre 20 miles northwest of Levin, a city close to the capital, and at a depth of 22miles, according to Geonet.

Ardern was speaking on a live TV interview at the time from the parliament building, called the Beehive.

With the camera and studio shaking around her, Arden said: "We’re just having a bit of an earthquake here, Ryan

"Quite a decent shake here...if you see things moving behind me. The Beehive moves a little more than most.”

Ardern assured the host that she was safe and the interview resumed.

The video was soon viral on social media.

Ms Arden's calm approach to the incident has only heightened her popularity as her approval rating soars following her handling of several crises
Ms Arden's calm approach to the incident has only heightened her popularity as her approval rating soars following her handling of several crisesCredit: Newshub
Ardern clearly kept her cool as an earthquake struck during a live interview RELATED ARTICLES From Dominic Cummings to Neil Ferguson - all the prominent lockdown rule-breakers Brits hoping to fly to Mallorca or Costa del Sol this summer risk being grounded Ardern, who became PM in 2017, was speaking on a live TV interview at the time from the parliament building, called the Beehive. "We're just having a bit of an earthquake here, Ryan...," she told the host of the show Ryan Bridge, as she, the camera and other things around her shook. "Quite a decent shake here...if you see things moving behind me. The Beehive moves a little more than most," she said. Ardern assured the host that she was safe and the interview resumed. "We are fine, I'm not under any hanging lights and I look like I am in a structurally strong place," she added. She reassured viewers during the quake that lasted 30 seconds RELATED ARTICLES Coronavirus LIVE updates: Dominic Cummings heckled outside home after avoiding the sack JK Rowling offers to pay civil servant's salary over cutting Boris Johnson tweet The video soon went viral on social media. Although the quake caused no damages or injuries were reported, it lasted for more than 30 seconds and caused panic in Wellington with several people in offices and homes getting under their tables for cover. Meanwhile, Ardern remains the one to beat as New Zealand heads toward a general election. The leader of the main opposition party was ousted on Friday after opinion polls showed he was no match for her soaring popularity. Simon Bridges was replaced by Todd Muller in an emergency caucus meeting of his centre-right National Party following a week of disastrous poll results. 76659595577 READ MORE Top News Stories From Mirror Online The political aide drove hundreds of miles while many Brits believed all but essential journeys were forbidden Dominic Cummings reported to police Britain to scorch in 26C highs 'Selfless' mum-of-six dies suddenly Swimmer's terrifying run-in with shark Just 5% of New Zealanders supported Bridges, 43, as the country's leader in a poll published on Thursday, while support for the Nationals fell to the lowest in decades. The same poll revealed Ardern, 39, enjoyed the support of 63% of the electorate. Ardern's popularity has shot higher in recent weeks with around 84% of New Zealanders approving of her government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Another poll showed Ardern had become New Zealand's most popular prime minister in a century and her centre-left Labour Party led coalition would be handed a huge victory at the election on September. DailyMirror Follow @DailyMirror MORE ON National PartyJacinda ArdernViralPoliticsCoronavirus 76659595577 MOST READ 1 Swimmer has terrifying encounter with huge shark in nail-biting footage 2 Dominic Cummings' mother says he broke lockdown on same day his uncle died 3 Coronavirus LIVE updates: Boris Johnson facing Tory revolt over Dominic Cummings 4 Dominic Cummings reported to police as ex-chief constable accuses him of risking lives 5 'Selfless' healthy mum-of-six dies after short and sudden illness
Ardern clearly kept her cool as an earthquake struck during a live interview

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There were no damages and no injuries, Ardern confirmed at a news conference later, but the shaking that lasted for more than 30 seconds caused panic in Wellington with several people in offices and homes getting under their tables for cover.

New Zealand lies on the seismically active "Ring of Fire", a 25,000 mile arc of volcanoes and ocean trenches girdling much of the Pacific Ocean.

The city of Christchurch is still recovering from a 6.3 magnitude quake in 2011 that killed 185 people.

In 2016, a 7.8 magnitude tremor hit the South Island town of Kaikoura, killing two and causing billions of dollars worth of damage, including in the capital Wellington, which is on North Island. 

New Zealand PM Jacinda Arden said her country has 'done what few countries have been able to do' by containing the spread of Covid-19
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