Aucklanders have felt the brunt of two rare localised earthquakes this afternoon.

The first was a 3.7 magnitude 65km northeast of Auckland at 4pm which was 23km deep.

The second, five minutes later, was a magnitude four and was just 6km deep. It was centred 15km east of Auckland putting under Motutapu Island, near Rangitoto Island, in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf.

Both were considered "moderate" by Geonet.

So far, the quakes had only triggered fire alarms, but they were felt from Waiheke Island to Rodney district north of Auckland.



Even the Dotcom mansion, the home of internet millionaire Kim Dotcom, was affected.



"Dotcom Mansion is shaking. Small #earthquake. Two in a row. No kidding. Not my fault. I'm in bed," he tweeted.



Art commentator Hamish Keith said he had lived in Auckland since 1958 and it was the "first time I have felt a quake".

Fire Service spokesman Jarron Phillips said they had fielded quite a few calls from panicked people but as of yet no reports of damage.



He said fire officers simply made people aware of what was going on and how to best handle any future disruptions.



A St Johns spokesperson said they had received no calls to do with injuries resulting from the quakes.

Two years ago Aucklanders felt a 2.7 magnitude quake but you have to delve into the history books to find anything significant. In 1835 South Auckland was struck by a magnitude 7 quake and then 50 years later another quake 6.2 struck in a similar area.

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