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Earthquakes in New Zealand

USGS recorded 11 earthquakes in New Zealand in the last 30 days and 95 in the last year, counting everything of magnitude 1.0 and above. The strongest in that year measured M 5.9.

M 3.9 · 12 km N of Rahotu, New Zealand · 2026-09-05 18:46 UTC M 4.0 · 9 km WNW of Solway, New Zealand · 2026-09-21 09:23 UTC M 4.3 · 61 km NNW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand · 2026-09-10 13:09 UTC M 4.3 · 95 km NW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand · 2026-08-25 12:26 UTC M 4.5 · 64 km SSW of Patea, New Zealand · 2026-09-14 22:44 UTC M 4.5 · 107 km NW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand · 2026-08-30 22:08 UTC M 4.5 · 24 km NNE of Bay View, New Zealand · 2026-08-28 21:11 UTC M 4.6 · 28 km NW of Raumati Beach, New Zealand · 2026-09-04 18:34 UTC M 4.7 · 156 km NNW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand · 2026-09-21 04:28 UTC M 5.2 · 70 km NNW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand · 2026-09-02 06:57 UTC M 5.3 · 66 km NNW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand · 2026-09-02 06:13 UTC

Recent earthquakes in New Zealand

Last 30 days, newest first as of 2026-09-23 05:14 UTC

Magnitude Location Depth When (UTC)
M 4.0 9 km WNW of Solway, New Zealand 26.0 km deep 2026-09-21 09:23 UTC
M 4.7 156 km NNW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand 213.0 km deep 2026-09-21 04:28 UTC
M 4.5 64 km SSW of Patea, New Zealand 97.8 km deep 2026-09-14 22:44 UTC
M 4.3 61 km NNW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand 10.0 km deep 2026-09-10 13:09 UTC
M 3.9 12 km N of Rahotu, New Zealand 10.1 km deep 2026-09-05 18:46 UTC
M 4.6 28 km NW of Raumati Beach, New Zealand 48.8 km deep 2026-09-04 18:34 UTC
M 5.2 70 km NNW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand 10.0 km deep 2026-09-02 06:57 UTC
M 5.3 66 km NNW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand 10.0 km deep 2026-09-02 06:13 UTC
M 4.5 107 km NW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand 182.3 km deep 2026-08-30 22:08 UTC
M 4.5 24 km NNE of Bay View, New Zealand 17.2 km deep 2026-08-28 21:11 UTC
M 4.3 95 km NW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand 10.0 km deep 2026-08-25 12:26 UTC

The largest on record in New Zealand

Since 1900, when the instrumental record becomes usable. The largest is M 7.8 at 97 km WSW of Te Anau, New Zealand on 2009-07-15: major: serious damage over large areas.

Largest since 1900 USGS

Magnitude Location Date Depth
M 7.8 97 km WSW of Te Anau, New Zealand 2009-07-15 12.0 km deep
M 7.8 53 km NNE of Amberley, New Zealand 2016-11-13 15.1 km deep
M 7.7 46 km E of Gisborne, New Zealand 1947-03-25 15.0 km deep
M 7.6 82 km ENE of Gisborne, New Zealand 1947-05-17 25.0 km deep
M 7.4 47 km WSW of Hastings, New Zealand 1931-02-02 35.0 km deep
M 7.3 40 km E of Waiouru, New Zealand 1931-02-13 45.0 km deep
M 7.3 68 km S of Wakefield, New Zealand 1929-06-16 20.0 km deep
M 7.2 39 km SE of Palmerston North, New Zealand 1934-03-05 15.0 km deep
M 7.2 56 km NW of Te Anau, New Zealand 2003-08-21 28.0 km deep
M 7.1 118 km NNE of Gisborne, New Zealand 1995-02-05 21.1 km deep

How these numbers were counted

Counts include every earthquake of magnitude 1.0 and above that USGS located in New Zealand. The search is a latitude and longitude rectangle covering New Zealand. No region is a rectangle, so events just outside the border can appear; each row shows the location text USGS published, which names the nearest town. Full method, including why counts from different places are not comparable.

Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Retrieved 2026-09-23. Public domain.