Pair of 4.3 earthquakes shake East Cape

GeoNet said the first struck 30km southeast of Te Kaha at 5.36pm. The second quake, some 40km deep, struck less than an hour later at 6.21pm. Photo / Thinkstock

A pair of magnitude 4.3 earthquakes have shaken the East Cape of the North Island this evening.

GeoNet said the first - a 43km-deep quake of light intensity - struck 30km southeast of Te Kaha at 5.36pm.

The second quake, some 40km deep, struck less than an hour later at 6.21pm.

The light quake was centred 30km west of Ruatoria.