North Otago residents were shaken awake by earthquakes this morning but there are no reports of significant damage.
The quakes were both centred 30km west of Oamaru, at a depth of 10km, according to Geonet.
The first, at 12.53am, had a magnitude of 3.8, and the second, at 2.06am, measured 4.3.
Locals reported some loud noises along with car alarms being set off.
Allied Press North Otago editor Hayden Meikle, who lives on the northern edge of Oamaru, said he and his wife woke up during the first quake.
"It wasn't particularly scary. It was five or six seconds of gentle rolling."
Waianakarua resident Robyn Douglas said on the Oamaru Today page on Facebook the second quake made a "noise like a freight train".
Amy Francis, in Kakanui, also commented: "Horrible things. Both sounded like an explosion."
