Region · live catalogue
Earthquakes in New Zealand
In the last 30 days, 6 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater were recorded in New Zealand; the largest was a magnitude 5.3 earthquake 58 km SW of Tokoroa, Waikato Region, New Zealand on 15 Oct 2026.
Data: USGS, GFZ · updated · sources and licences
- 24 hours
- 0
- all magnitudes
- 7 days
- 1
- M2.5+
- 30 days
- 6
- M2.5+
Seismic record
In New Zealand, the USGS catalogue lists 113 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or more since 1900 and 372 of magnitude 5 or more since 2000, about 14 a year. In the 12 months to 13 Oct 2026 it recorded 101 of magnitude 2.5 or more, 95 of them magnitude 4 or more.
The largest since 1900: M7.8 on 15 Jul 2009, 155 km WNW of Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand. The most recent of magnitude 5 or more: M5.0 on 2 Oct 2026, 17 km SSE of Bell Block, Taranaki Region, New Zealand.
Counts from the USGS ComCat catalogue (public domain), last compiled 13 Oct 2026. Outside the United States, ComCat is complete from about magnitude 4.5, so smaller local earthquakes may be missing from these counts but appear in the lists below. How these pages are built
Last 24 hours
No earthquakes recorded in New Zealand in the last 24 hours.
Earlier this week, magnitude 2.5 and above
| Mag | Location | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1mb | Hicks Bay, New Zealand |
Largest in the last 30 days
| Mag | Location | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 5.3mww | 58 km SW of Tokoroa, Waikato Region, New Zealand2 agencies | |
| 4.3mb | 20 km SW of Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand | |
| 4.3mb | 76 km NNE of Whakatane, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand | |
| 4.2mb | 56 km SE of Dannevirke, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand | |
| 4.1mb | Hicks Bay, New Zealand | |
| 4.1mwr | 70 km W of Hastings, Hawke's Bay Region, New Zealand |
Where they occurred
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Largest since 1900
Magnitude 6 and above in New Zealand.
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Questions
How many earthquakes happen in New Zealand?
In the last 30 days, 6 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater were recorded in New Zealand, 1 of them in the last 7 days. In the last 24 hours, 0 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 5.3 earthquake 58 km SW of Tokoroa, Waikato Region, New Zealand on 15 Oct 2026, at a depth of 284 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?
50% 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.