Swarm of quakes near Gisborne

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Feeling a little shaky lately?

A swarm of small earthquakes near Gisborne could be the reason.

Wondering about a sudden small jolt or being woken unexpectedly and you might find the answer in a bunch of light earthquakes just on the edge of awareness.

GeoNet, the government geological hazards agency, has recorded 13 light shakes in the past few days, clustered at a spot to the south of Gisborne, just off the coast.

The quakes have been measured in a strength range from 2.6 magnitude to 3.5.

All have been at a depth of 17 to 22 kilometres, 20km south-west of Gisborne off the Whareongaonga coast.

The first occurred on September 30 and October 1. The majority (seven shakes) were over Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Two more have happened since then, making 13 in total as of late yesterday morning.

All of the quakes are located off a known fault fracture zone just inland from the coast.

It is the same area where a large landslide below the railway line saw an historic Māori site fall towards the sea in 2021.