More than 140 claims were made to the the Earthquake Commission from Hawke's Bay last year, resulting in more than $80,000 paid out for quake-related damage.
GeoNet duty seismologist Brian Ferris said last year six earthquakes in the Hawke's Bay region were reported as felt at six on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale - defined as "felt by all, people and animals alarmed, many run outside. Difficulty experienced in walking steadily".
The earthquakes included a magnitude 6.5 event, 260km deep, centred 60km south-west of Opunake "felt throughout New Zealand"on July 3, a magnitude 5.2 quake, 90km deep, centred 10 km south of Turangi, on July 7 and a magnitude 5.8 quake, 175km deep, centred 20km south-east of Tokoroa, felt from Northland to Dunedin on December 8.
About 15 other events reported as five on the Modified Mercalli scale were reported in Hawke's Bay last year, Mr Ferris said.
There were 147 Hawke's Bay-based claims made to the Earthquake Commission (EQC) last year, resulting in $80,011 paid out for earthquake-related damage. Seventy claims were declined.