4.3mb
NZ · Place
Earthquake in Wellington today: quakes nearby
Check whether an earthquake was reported near Wellington today. Change the search radius to compare nearby epicentres, magnitudes and depths.
Wellington · NZ · GeoNames 2179537 · Search radius: 100 km
—
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
- M 4.3Renwick
- Strongest in 30 days
- M 4.3Renwick
- Earthquakes in the catalogue
- 1USGS
- Magnitude 4.5 or larger
- 0M ≥ 4.5
Earthquakes within 100 km of Wellington. 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).
Earthquake risk in Wellington
The Wellington Fault
The Wellington Fault runs along the western edge of the harbour and the Hutt Valley. It has not ruptured since European settlement, but it is capable of a magnitude 7+ earthquake.
1855 and the Hikurangi subduction zone
The 1855 Wairarapa earthquake (about M8.2) lifted the Wellington shoreline by up to 1.5 m — Lambton Quay was once the beach. Beneath the city lies the Hikurangi subduction zone, New Zealand's largest earthquake source.
Cook Strait and Kaikōura
The 2013 Seddon earthquakes in Cook Strait and the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake damaged buildings and the port; several buildings were later demolished.
Earthquakes felt in Wellington and Cook Strait
Wellington’s radius view can include epicentres in Cook Strait and the north of the South Island, depending on the selected distance. For a recent tremor, compare the origin time and location in the GeoNet report. GeoNet’s felt maps show where people reported shaking.
The 14 November 2016 Kaikōura earthquake is a historical comparison. GeoNet’s event record includes an intensity map based on reports from across New Zealand. Open the felt map and zoom to Wellington to compare reports around the harbour.
Major earthquakes
Notable earthquakes near Wellington in the USGS catalogue (NZ dates):
- 6.5Mww
- 7.0Mw
- 7.2Mw
- 7.8Mww
Long or Strong, Get Gone
Drop, cover and hold during shaking. On the coast and in low-lying areas, if an earthquake is long (over a minute) or strong (hard to stand), walk to the tsunami safe zone immediately — Wellington Region Emergency Management maps the blue lines.
GeoNet publishes the official record and felt reports.
Frequently asked questions
Was there an earthquake in Wellington today?
The first panel shows the latest earthquake within 100 km of Wellington in the catalogue, in NZ time. GeoNet publishes the official record; magnitudes can differ slightly.
I felt shaking in Wellington but it is not listed — why?
Small earthquakes can take a few minutes to appear, and an earthquake felt in Wellington may be more than 100 km away. Widen the radius, compare the time, and check GeoNet’s felt reports.
Is Wellington due for a big earthquake?
Wellington sits on several active faults and above the Hikurangi subduction zone. A large earthquake is likely at some point; the date cannot be predicted.
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.
Wellington · NZ · Pacific/Auckland · 381,900 · GeoNames 2179537