Shan...interesting observation. The recent quakes near Simuelue (north of equator) occured both before and after the Aukland Islands region quake. I imagine that 2 examples of paired quakes (2004 and 2007) are not enough to show anything statistically significant. There was also a quake on the Sumatra subduction zone near 7 S...so quakes are occuring several degrees north and south of the recent M8.4 and 7.9. It's not my field, but I have heard that stresses diffuse over time away from a large rupture so this could be a delayed effect from the M7.9 and 8.4 and, while not random, be unrelated to the Aukland Islands region quakes.

Your alert did not include a magnitude beyond "strong quake".
Chris