USGS:  A 6.0 major earthquake and two other >5.0 earthquakes hit off the east coast of North Island, New Zealand on Friday, November 18, 2011.  The 6.0 quake hit at 07:51:27 UTC, at a depth of 26.8 km (16.7 mi); the 5.7 quake hit at 04:34:07 UTC, at a depth of 20.1 km (12.5 mi); and the 5.2 quake hit at 02:43:54 UTC, at a depth of 18.4 km (11.4 mi). 

Commentary:  There have been two major (>6.0) quakes in the past eight days, although there have been 33 quakes (over 5.0 magnitude) within the last eight days, some of which are close to a 6.0 major magnitude.  Jesus said these would be the signs of His return in the last days, "Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places" Matthew 24:7.  The graph below, showing the astronomical increase in quakes in only the last year, is very telling: 

Source of graph:   www.dlindquist.com