Series of quakes strike lower North Island

A series of earthquakes have shaken the lower North Island this morning.

Three quakes in quick succession rocked Waipukurau in central Hawkes Bay shortly after midnight, while a separate quake shook close to Eketahuna a few hours later.

The strongest of the earthquakes hit a magnitude of 4 around 5km northeast of Waipukurau at 12.15am.

It was the second of three early morning quakes, rocking the town at 12.10am with a magnitude of 2.4, and 12.28am at 2.5 magnitude. All three struck at a depth of between 10km and 12km.

More than 60 people reported they felt the strongest of the three quakes to GeoNet, which described it as a moderate earthquake.

Meanwhile, residents in Eketahuna also received a jolt to wake them up this morning, with a 3.4 magnitude quake striking at 7.22am.

It was centred at a depth of 28km.