An earthquake registering 3.2 on the Richter scale has hit off the Bay of Plenty coast, near White Island.

GeoNet is reporting the quake hit at about 3.25pm and had a focal depth of 5km.

An earthquake has hit near White Island this afternoon. File photo.

It was centred 10km south-east of White Island, and had a Mercalli Intensity (strength felt on the earth's surface) of 5.

White Island's aviation colour code has not been lifted and its alert level remains at one.