The smattering of minor earthquakes in the east coast region continues today with two minor shakes at 5.31 and 534am today.

The first was a 2.5 magnitude tremor 25 kilometres west of Ruatoria and 25km deep, the second three minutes later was located 15km west of Te Araroa at 2.6 magnitude and only six kilometres deep.

Early morning earthquakes were mostly unfelt

The region also experienced a 2.6 magnitude earthquake 15 km west of Matawai a 2.12am on Saturday, that was ten kilometres deep and on Friday at 8.09am there was a 2.6 magnitude earthquake 15km west of Wairoa at five kilometres depth.

In his blog at Geonet seismologist Brad Scott says earthquakes occur as short lived cluster are known a swarms. Larger ones will last weeks to months and include many hundreds of earthquakes. Swarms are often characterised by no one main or large event, with many of the events being about the same size.

The magnitude scale used by Geonet to record the strength of earthquakes is a modified Mercalli Scale. Earthquakes at level two are felt only by a few people at rest in houses or on upper floors.

A three is weak. And is felt indoors as a light vibration. Hanging objects may swing slightly.