Around 30 earthquakes have this morning rocked Whakatane in the eastern Bay of Plenty.

Volcano Surveillance Co-ordinator Brad Scott from GNS Science says it appears there was a main earthquake measuring 4.3 at 2.38 this morning.

Since then around 30 aftershocks have been recorded by GNS, many registering 3.0 and higher on the Richter scale.

Mr Scott says it is all part of ongoing seismic activity that’s been occurring in the eastern Bay of Plenty since 2005.  Since then about 6000 earthquakes have been recorded in the region.

No damage has been reported.

Mr Scott says the earthquakes are not directly linked to White Island and are not cause for alarm.