What the record shows for New Zealand
The strongest earthquake on record near New Zealand is a magnitude 7.8 in 2016, centred 53 km NNE of Amberley, New Zealand - 10 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 2,787 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 611 km of New Zealand - roughly 139 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 52 tsunamis within 611 km of New Zealand between 1831 and 2022. The most significant was in 1931 near N. New Zealand, triggered by an M7.7 earthquake, which killed around 261 people.
12 volcanoes are catalogued near New Zealand, including Taranaki, Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, Tongariro, Taupo, Maroa and 6 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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New Zealand straddles the boundary between the Pacific and Australian plates, giving it thousands of earthquakes every year.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for New Zealand.
Earthquake risk in New Zealand - FAQ
Is New Zealand at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 139 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 611 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.8 in 2016.
What was the biggest earthquake in New Zealand?
The strongest earthquake on record near New Zealand is M7.8, in 2016 (53 km NNE of Amberley, New Zealand), from USGS.
Does New Zealand get tsunamis?
Yes - 52 tsunamis since 1831 (most recently 2022) within 611 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 261 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in New Zealand?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.