Wellington  - Five earthquakes rattled New Zealand Thursday morning, according to seismologists of GNS Science who recorded them. There were no reports of damage from any of the quakes.

Three hit the North Island, including one measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale, off the Bay of Plenty coast and 80 kilometres north- east of White Island, which has an active volcano.

That quake was deep, at 130 kilometres below the surface, and GNS Science said it was likely to be felt in the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawek's Bay regions.

The other North Island quakes measured 4.7 and 2.4, while two shakes of 4.9 and 4.1 magnitude were recorded near Hanmer Springs in the South Island. (dpa)