A trio of quakes which rattled the Bay of Plenty overnight is expected to continue during the next week according to seismologists.

The quakes struck the Kawerau area registering 3.3, 2.9 and 2.4 on the Richter scale.

A scientist stands in the rift that opened in a paddock near East Bank Road during the Edgecumbe earthquake. Photo: GNS Science.

GNS Science reports the 3.3 quake struck around 7.47pm and had a focal depth of 5km, while the second hit around 8.52pm with a focal depth of 2km.

The third earthquake was on also only 2km deep and hit the region around 9.18pm.

GNS Science also reports the quakes were felt in Kawerau, Whakatane and Onepu.

Swarms of earthquakes that struck the Bay of Plenty last night are predicted to happen every couple of years and GNS Science says sometimes it can last for days.

The biggest earthquake to hit the Bay of Plenty was the 6.3 Edgecumbe earthquake in 1987.

For more on earthquakes read Scientists study past earthquakes.