'Moderate' quake in Bay

A moderate earthquake has been recorded in the Bay of Plenty.

At 11.29pm last night, a magnitude 3.3 earthquake was recorded near Opotiki.

GeoNet said the earthquake was of moderate intensity, with an epicentre 10km south-east of Opotiki.

The quake was shallow at 6km deep.

No felt reports had been registered on the website.

Only minutes earlier, a larger but deeper quake was recorded off the coast of Te Kaha.

The 4.5 magnitude quake was recorded at 11.27pm, 180km north of Te Araroa.

The quake was recorded as unnoticeable at a depth of 317km.