An earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter scale in the lower North Island has been followed by two small earthquakes in Canterbury on Sunday.

The magnitude 4 quake recorded at 4.10am was centred 20 kilometres southeast of Wellington and had a focal depth of 25km. It was felt in Wellington, GNS Science said.

Canterbury residents reported that they felt a magnitude 3.2 quake at 7.46am, which was located 20km west of Christchurch and had a focal depth of 9km.

A earthquake at the same location in Canterbury was also reported at 6.03am and it was magnitude 2.8.

The earthquakes follow a deep magnitude 5.5 quake on Saturday northwest of Rotorua.

This week it will be two years since an earthquake measuring 7.1 struck Christchurch at 4.35am on September 4,2010.