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NZ earthquake today: New Zealand quakes
Check recent USGS earthquakes in New Zealand and explore the Christchurch and Wellington areas. View offshore events on the world map or with a radius search.
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Latest earthquakes
UpdatedUpdates every minute while this page is visible
No known events in this window
This describes the available catalogue, not an all-clear. Try a longer period or check the latest known event below.
The last 30 days
- Latest recorded earthquake
- No records in 30 days
- Strongest in 30 days
- No records in 30 days
- Earthquakes in the catalogue
- 0USGS
- Magnitude 4.5 or larger
- 0M ≥ 4.5
Data from USGS, updated automatically. This is not a warning; official alerts come from national authorities. Times are shown in New Zealand time (NZST/NZDT).
Where earthquakes happen in New Zealand
The Alpine Fault and the South Island
The Alpine Fault runs along the Southern Alps; scientists estimate a high chance it ruptures in a large earthquake within the coming decades. The 2016 Kaikōura earthquake (M7.8) ruptured more than 20 faults and lifted parts of the coast; the 2009 Fiordland earthquake (M7.8) struck offshore.
Canterbury
The 2010 Darfield earthquake (M7.0) revealed a previously unknown fault. Its aftershock sequence included the shallow 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake (M6.1), which killed 185 people.
The North Island and Hikurangi
Off the east coast lies the Hikurangi subduction zone. The 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake (M7.4) destroyed Napier and raised the land; Wellington sits on several active faults.
Recent earthquakes and felt reports in New Zealand
GeoNet publishes recent earthquakes in Aotearoa New Zealand and collects Felt Rapid reports about shaking. A dot on the QuakeMap shows the epicentre. GeoNet’s felt reports let you see how people experienced the same earthquake in different places.
Use the Wellington and Christchurch views to filter by distance to those cities. An earthquake under Cook Strait or off the South Island can affect coastal communities and fall outside the land boundary. Check the world map or expand the radius to include offshore events.
Major earthquakes
Key earthquakes in New Zealand, checked against the USGS catalogue (NZ dates):
- 7.8Mww
- 6.1Mww
- 7.0Mwc
- 7.8Mwc
- 7.4Mw
Drop, Cover, Hold — and Long or Strong, Get Gone
During shaking: drop, cover and hold. On the coast, if an earthquake is long (more than a minute) or strong (hard to stand), move immediately to high ground or inland without waiting for an official warning.
GeoNet publishes New Zealand's official earthquake information and felt reports; its magnitude can differ from the USGS value.
Frequently asked questions
Was there an earthquake in New Zealand today?
The first panel shows the latest earthquake in the catalogue in NZ time. GeoNet has the official record and felt reports.
What is the Alpine Fault risk?
Research suggests a high probability of a large Alpine Fault earthquake in the coming decades; the date cannot be predicted.
Why do GeoNet and the USGS differ?
They use different networks and methods; GeoNet's New Zealand network is far denser.
Latest known event
Latest known event · Pacific/Auckland
Sources and coverage
Source: USGS · GeoNames · CC BY 4.0 · Natural Earth
The location is the reported epicentre. Offshore context is separate from a position inside a country. Small-event coverage varies by region.
Historical context
The historical catalogue includes USGS M6+ from 1900, M4.5+ from 1970 and delivered events since the project began. It is not a complete record of all small earthquakes.