Two earthquakes have struck near Methven in Canterbury on Sunday.
The first, a 3.6 quake at 7.07am was 15 kilometres from Methven at a relatively shallow depth of 7 kilometres.
It was followed at 7.17am by a 3.0 tremor centred 16 kilometres from the town and at the same depth.
On Saturday night a 4.6-magnitude quake 15 kilometres south-west of Christchurch at a depth of 12 kilometres.
It was the strongest earthquake the region has felt this year. GeoNet spokesperson Mark Chadwick said aftershocks from were to be expected in the region in the coming days.
