A "strong" magnitude 4.8 earthquake has struck the east cape this morning, GeoNet reports.
The quake struck at 5.21am, and was centred 50km east of Tolaga Bay, at a depth of 12km.
The tremor was reportedly felt in the Gisborne area.
It came not long after a magnitude 3.6 quake, which struck at 4.40am, 60km east of Tolaga Bay, at a depth of 16km.
Between 10.24pm and 6.53am, 12 earthquakes have struck the region. However most have been either weak or unnoticeable.
