As of 17 October 2026, 4 earthquakes have been recorded in or near New Zealand in the past 24 hours, 20 in the last 7 days and 84 in the last 30 days. The strongest was a magnitude 5.1 event in north island of New Zealand at 280 km depth on 15 October 2026. Counts are compiled from USGS, EMSC and regional seismic networks and update automatically.
New Zealand straddles the boundary between the Pacific and Australian plates, giving it thousands of earthquakes every year. The map above shows live earthquakes and recent activity in New Zealand - today, yesterday, this week and the last 30 days - including magnitude, depth and timing. Data is sourced from USGS, EMSC and regional seismic networks and updates automatically.
Whether you are checking for a quake that happened just now, looking for a USGS-style earthquake map for New Zealand, tracking tremors and seismic activity over the last 7 days, or watching for a big or major earthquake, this page stays current. For instant earthquake alerts in New Zealand - the moment a quake strikes near you - the free QuakeMate earthquake alert app sends real-time push notifications with custom magnitude and region rules.
Latest earthquakes in New Zealand
Show the full list of 84 recent earthquakes
- 3.9SOUTH OF KERMADEC ISLANDS22 minutes ago · 17/10/2026, 21:00:57 · 286 km deep
- 3.3NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND6 hours ago · 17/10/2026, 15:06:19 · 241 km deep
- 4.383 km N of Opotiki, New Zealand9 hours ago · 17/10/2026, 11:32:25 · 133 km deep
- 3.0NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND17 hours ago · 17/10/2026, 03:51:08 · 153 km deep
- 3.1SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND1 day ago · 16/10/2026, 14:11:43 · 6 km deep
- 5.0Auckland Islands, New Zealand region1 day ago · 16/10/2026, 14:09:54 · 10 km deep
- 3.7SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND1 day ago · 16/10/2026, 05:53:16 · 18 km deep
- 4.0SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND1 day ago · 16/10/2026, 04:00:33 · 8 km deep
- 3.4SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND2 days ago · 15/10/2026, 15:19:01 · 64 km deep
- 5.343 km SSE of Otorohanga, New Zealand2 days ago · 15/10/2026, 05:25:31 · 286 km deep
- 3.2NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND3 days ago · 14/10/2026, 15:16:05 · 177 km deep
- 3.0COOK STRAIT, NEW ZEALAND3 days ago · 14/10/2026, 03:23:37 · 90 km deep
- 3.0COOK STRAIT, NEW ZEALAND4 days ago · 13/10/2026, 15:00:50 · 202 km deep
- 3.2SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND4 days ago · 13/10/2026, 14:27:14 · 25 km deep
- 2.9NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND5 days ago · 12/10/2026, 15:19:34 · 10 km deep
- 3.5NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND5 days ago · 12/10/2026, 15:14:46 · 143 km deep
- 4.225 km SSE of Pahiatua, New Zealand5 days ago · 12/10/2026, 06:52:19 · 32 km deep
- 3.3COOK STRAIT, NEW ZEALAND6 days ago · 11/10/2026, 18:11:18 · 385 km deep
- 3.0NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND6 days ago · 11/10/2026, 13:23:56 · 311 km deep
- 4.324 km WNW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand6 days ago · 11/10/2026, 00:40:27 · 67 km deep
- 4.9Kermadec Islands region1 week ago · 10/10/2026, 20:35:48 · 118 km deep
- 3.0NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND1 week ago · 10/10/2026, 16:46:02 · 380 km deep
- 3.8SOUTH OF KERMADEC ISLANDS1 week ago · 10/10/2026, 14:19:21 · 212 km deep
- 4.4south of the Kermadec Islands1 week ago · 10/10/2026, 14:18:46 · 94 km deep
- 3.1SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND1 week ago · 09/10/2026, 23:44:21 · 10 km deep
- 3.7SOUTH OF KERMADEC ISLANDS1 week ago · 09/10/2026, 19:27:26 · 177 km deep
- 3.0SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND1 week ago · 09/10/2026, 08:40:39 · 5 km deep
- 4.1NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND1 week ago · 08/10/2026, 13:53:17 · 5 km deep
- 3.6SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND1 week ago · 08/10/2026, 09:09:06 · 145 km deep
- 3.5NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND1 week ago · 08/10/2026, 09:04:56 · 34 km deep
Did people in New Zealand feel recent earthquakes?
These recent earthquakes in New Zealand were felt by people nearby - see how many reported feeling each one.
Felt something we didn't list? Report it and read what neighbours felt in the QuakeMate app →
Watching New Zealand from abroad?
Many people reading this page are not in New Zealand - they are checking on family, friends or colleagues who are. Here is what the most significant recent earthquake actually means, in plain terms.
- How strong was it
- A magnitude 5.3 earthquake near 43 km SSE of Otorohanga, New Zealand on 15/10/2026, 05:25:31 - a moderate earthquake, widely felt and capable of light damage to vulnerable buildings near the epicentre. The USGS PAGER impact estimate for this event was green, meaning no or minimal expected casualties and economic losses.
- Was it widely felt
- No felt reports have been submitted for this earthquake yet. That is common for events offshore, at depth, or away from populated areas.
- What happens next
- 9 further earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or above have been recorded in New Zealand since. Aftershocks typically continue for days to weeks and decay in frequency.
Earthquakes in New Zealand: frequently asked questions
Were there any earthquakes in New Zealand today?
Yes - 4 earthquakes have been recorded in or near New Zealand in the last 24 hours, the most recent a magnitude 3.9 in south of Kermadec islands. See the live map above for today's activity.
How many earthquakes were there in New Zealand yesterday?
4 earthquakes were recorded in or near New Zealand in the 24 hours before today (yesterday), based on USGS, EMSC and regional seismic networks.
How many earthquakes have there been in New Zealand this week (last 7 days)?
20 earthquakes have been recorded in or near New Zealand in the last 7 days, according to USGS, EMSC and regional seismic networks tracked by QuakeMate.
How many earthquakes have there been in New Zealand in the last 30 days?
84 earthquakes have been recorded in or near New Zealand in the last 30 days (the past month). The largest was magnitude 5.1.
Are there earthquakes in New Zealand?
Yes. New Zealand is seismically active - 84 earthquakes have been recorded in or near New Zealand in the last 30 days. New Zealand straddles the boundary between the Pacific and Australian plates, giving it thousands of earthquakes every year.
What was the most recent earthquake in New Zealand?
The most recent earthquake in New Zealand was a magnitude 3.9 event in south of Kermadec islands at a depth of 286 km.
What is the strongest recent earthquake in New Zealand?
The strongest earthquake in the recent New Zealand feed was magnitude 5.1, located in north island of New Zealand.
Is New Zealand in an earthquake zone?
New Zealand straddles the boundary between the Pacific and Australian plates, giving it thousands of earthquakes every year.
How many earthquakes does New Zealand get per year?
The exact yearly total depends on the magnitude threshold counted, but New Zealand's rate is reflected in its recent activity: 84 earthquakes in the last 30 days alone. New Zealand straddles the boundary between the Pacific and Australian plates, giving it thousands of earthquakes every year. QuakeMate tracks every event in real time so you can see the running tally.
Is there a tsunami warning for New Zealand?
Major undersea earthquakes near New Zealand can trigger tsunami warnings. QuakeMate flags tsunami-capable events on the live map and in alerts; see quakemate.app/tsunamis-in/new-zealand for current tsunami risk and recent coastal activity for New Zealand.
Is there an earthquake alert app for New Zealand?
Yes. QuakeMate is a free iOS app that sends real-time earthquake alerts for New Zealand, with custom magnitude and region rules so you are notified the moment a quake strikes near you. It also offers a live map, "Did You Feel It" community reports and tsunami warnings. Download it at quakemate.app/download.
What is the best app to track earthquakes in New Zealand?
QuakeMate is a top-rated, free earthquake tracker for New Zealand: real-time data from USGS, EMSC and regional networks, instant push alerts, a live map, magnitude and depth for every event, and community felt reports. Available on iOS at quakemate.app/download.
Where can I see a USGS earthquake map for New Zealand?
QuakeMate plots USGS, EMSC and regional earthquake data for New Zealand on the interactive map above, updated automatically. Each event shows magnitude, depth, location and time, and links to a permalink page - a faster, mobile-friendly way to read the same USGS data.
Has there been a big earthquake in New Zealand recently?
The strongest recent earthquake in or near New Zealand was magnitude 5.1 in north island of New Zealand. That is a moderate earthquake that can be widely felt. See the live map and full list above for the latest activity.
More on how earthquakes work? Read the earthquake Q&A →
Get earthquake alerts for New Zealand
QuakeMate sends real-time alerts the moment an earthquake strikes near you - free on iOS, with community “Did You Feel It” reports.
Other hazards in New Zealand
Earthquakes in nearby countries
Earthquake data via the QuakeMate API (USGS, EMSC and regional agencies). Magnitudes and locations are preliminary and may be revised.