Hundreds of people across the Bay of Plenty have reported feeling a series of earthquakes centred near White Island this evening.
A magnitude 4.9 quake struck off the coast of the Eastern Bay at 8.35pm, 15km south-east of White Island, according to Geonet.
The quake, which was 5km deep, was followed a minute later by a magnitude 4.7 shake - 16km deep, 5km east of White Island.
Geonet labelled both earthquakes as moderate.
A smaller quake followed at 8.48pm. The 3.1 magnitude shake was 10km south-east of White Island and 12km deep.
On Geonet's Facebook page, a person in Whakatane described feeling a "small sharp jolt" after the first shake. Another said it was a "gentle sway".
On Sunday evening a series of small-moderate sized earthquakes occurred about 12-15 km northeast of White Island.