Region · live catalogue
Earthquakes in New Zealand
In the last 30 days, 13 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater were recorded in New Zealand; the largest was a magnitude 5.2 earthquake 74 km NNW of Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand on 2 Sep 2026.
Data: USGS · updated · sources and licences
- 24 hours
- 1
- all magnitudes
- 7 days
- 2
- M2.5+
- 30 days
- 13
- M2.5+
Last 24 hours
| Mag | Location | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1mb | 28 km NNE of Whakatane, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand |
Earlier this week, magnitude 2.5 and above
| Mag | Location | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2mb | 20 km ESE of Kelvin Grove, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand |
Largest in the last 30 days
| Mag | Location | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 5.2mww | 74 km NNW of Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 5.1mwr | 72 km NNW of Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4.7mb | Hicks Bay, New Zealand | |
| 4.6mwr | 28 km NW of Raumati Beach, Wellington Region, New Zealand | |
| 4.5mwr | 79 km S of Hawera, Taranaki Region, New Zealand | |
| 4.5mb | 124 km NNE of Whakatane, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand | |
| 4.4mb | 76 km WNW of Wanaka, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4.3mb | 66 km NNW of Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4.3mb | 69 km WNW of Wanaka, Otago, New Zealand | |
| 4.2mb | 20 km ESE of Kelvin Grove, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand |
Where they occurred
Largest since 1900
Magnitude 6 and above in New Zealand.
Loading the historical catalogue…
Questions
How many earthquakes happen in New Zealand?
In the last 30 days, 13 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater were recorded in New Zealand, 2 of them in the last 7 days. In the last 24 hours, 1 earthquakes of any magnitude were recorded. Most small earthquakes are not felt.
What was the largest recent earthquake in New Zealand?
The largest in the last 30 days was a magnitude 5.2 earthquake 74 km NNW of Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand on 2 Sep 2026, at a depth of 10 km.
What is the largest earthquake recorded in New Zealand since 1900?
According to the USGS catalogue, the largest was a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on 13 Nov 2016 (53 km NNE of Amberley, New Zealand). Magnitudes of early 20th-century earthquakes are less certain than modern ones.
How deep are earthquakes in New Zealand?
69% of the magnitude 2.5+ earthquakes recorded in New Zealand in the last 30 days were shallower than 70 km. Shallow earthquakes generally cause stronger shaking at the surface than deep ones of the same magnitude.
Where can I get official earthquake information for New Zealand?
For official information, warnings and safety advice, follow GeoNet (https://www.geonet.org.nz/) and your local civil protection authority. This site compiles agency reports and is not a warning service.
Can earthquakes be predicted?
No. Scientists can estimate how likely strong shaking is in a region over years or decades, but no method predicts the time, place and size of a specific earthquake. Aftershocks are expected after large earthquakes and become less frequent over time.