Swarm of quakes just a nuisance

Earthquakes have rocked Matata since early February and continued during the clean-up for the landslides this week.

Many residents have become immune to the regular shakes, having experienced more than 100 since the swarm began.

The biggest quake, on April 14, measured 4.0 on the Richter scale.

A sharp tremor on Wednesday that jolted outsiders involved in the clean-up went unnoticed by locals surveying properties near the beach.

When asked if she felt the earthquake, Matata cafe owner Marilyn Pearce said she had become so used to the daily tremors she had not noticed it.

The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences said the swarm was unusual because it had continued for months, rather than hours or days.

The institute has installed three extra seismographs in the area to monitor the swarm but does not believe it is a major cause for concern.

Volcanologist Brad Scott said historical evidence suggested the tremors would gradually settle down.

"They can be followed by a large earthquake but it's rare," he said.

Rotorua chief fire officer Wayne Bedford has been helping oversee the cleanup in Matata.

He said the earthquakes were small and did not pose any additional danger to people or structures hit by the landslides.

"The damage has been done."

If authorities had any concerns they would not allow people inside damaged buildings that were at risk of collapse.

Earthquakes during last year's Bay of Plenty floods had rattled nerves but not caused any problems, he said.