Quakes in Hawkes Bay, Canterbury

File photo / NZ Herald

A 4.3 magnitude struck the Hawkes Bay this morning and a 4.2 magnitude quake was widely felt across Canterbury last night, GNS Science has reported.

The Hawkes Bay quake struck 40km east of Havelock North at a depth of 20km at 7.03am.

GNS Science said the quake was felt in Napier and Taradale.

The Canterbury quake struck at 9.58pm, 20km south-west of Christchurch at a depth of 9km.

GNS Science said the quake was felt "strongly in Rolleston and widely in Canterbury", with scores of Canterbury residents once again flocking to online social networking site twitter to share their experience.

"Short sharp nasty rumble, like a train shunting. The bloody earthquakes go on and on," Cheryl Bernstein tweeted.

"Wow that was an exciting shake out here at Rolleston - nice thump and wobble," doddassoc said.

- NZHERALD STAFF