Major
active fault zones of New Zealand showing variation in displacement vector along the
Pacific–
Indo-Australian plate boundary (left) and the distribution of earthquakes (magnitude 5 or greater)
New Zealand earthquakes 1960 to 2020
| Magnitude |
Annual average |
| 4.0–4.9 |
355.9 |
| 5.0–5.9 |
29.28 |
| 6.0–6.9 |
1.66 |
| 7.0–7.9 |
0.26 |
| 8.0 and over |
0.01 |
This is a list of large earthquakes that have occurred in New Zealand. Only earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.0 or greater are listed, except for a few that had a moderate impact. Aftershocks are not included, unless they were of great significance or contributed to a death toll, such as the M 6.3 2011 Christchurch earthquake and the M 7.3 aftershock to the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake.
Earthquakes occur frequently in New Zealand as the country is situated in the collision zone between the Indo-Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, part of the Pacific Basin Ring of Fire, where many earthquakes and volcanoes occur. Most events occur along the main ranges running from Fiordland in the southwest to East Cape in the northeast. This axis follows the boundary between the Indo-Australian and Pacific plates. Large earthquakes are less common, where the plates are not subducting and the forces are accommodated in different ways.
The largest city within the highest-risk zone is the nation's capital, Wellington, followed by Napier then Hastings. All these cities have experienced severe earthquakes since European settlement. About 14,000 earthquakes occur in and around the country each year, of which between 150 and 200 are big enough to be felt. As a result, New Zealand has very stringent building regulations. The 1929 Murchison earthquake and 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake led to the development of stricter building codes in New Zealand from 1935.
Quite early on, European settlers were faced with the reality of earthquakes in their new home. On 26 May 1840, the new settlement at Port Nicholson was struck by the first of a number of earthquakes and tremors. Early settlers learned fairly quickly the importance of using appropriate building methods in an earthquake-prone country. The 1848 earthquake, centred in Marlborough, caused great damage to the brick and masonry buildings in Wellington, and the city was rebuilt mainly in wood; consequently it suffered comparatively little damage in the 8.2 magnitude earthquake of 1855, which lifted the land 2–3m. Many buildings in Hastings and Napier were damaged in the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake. New building regulations meant that any new buildings constructed afterwards attempted to take earthquake shaking into account in building design.
Pre-19th century
| Date |
Location |
Region |
Magnitude |
Depth |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Further information |
| (ML) |
(MW) |
| 1100 |
Alpine Fault |
South Island |
7.6–8.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1450 |
Alpine Fault |
South Island |
7.6–8.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1460 |
Wellington Region |
Wellington |
8.0 |
8.0 |
25 km |
41.39°S |
174.80°E |
Haowhenua earthquake |
| 1620 |
Alpine Fault |
South Island |
7.6–8.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1717 |
Alpine Fault |
South Island |
8.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
19th century
Information for earthquakes before 1840 are later estimates.
| Date |
Location |
Region |
Magnitude |
Depth |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Fatalities |
Further information |
| (ML) |
(MW) |
| 1815 |
New Plymouth |
Taranaki |
6.5 |
|
25 km |
38.99°S |
174.00°E |
|
|
| 1817 |
Fiordland |
South Island |
6.5 |
|
25 km |
45.99°S |
167.00°E |
|
|
| 1826 |
Fiordland |
South Island |
7.5 |
|
25 km |
44.99°S |
167.00°E |
|
|
| 1835 |
South Auckland |
Auckland |
6.5 |
|
25 km |
36.99°S |
175.00°E |
|
1835 Auckland earthquake – Apparently a large shallow earthquake followed by aftershocks. Evidence rests on a single report that has so far not been verified |
| 1838 |
Waitotara Forest |
Manawatu |
6.5 |
|
25 km |
39.39°S |
176.10°E |
|
|
| 26 May 1840 |
Paraparaumu |
Wellington |
6.0 |
|
25 km |
41.00°S |
175.00°E |
|
|
| 8 July 1843 |
Near Taihape |
Manawatu |
7.6 |
7.6 |
12 km |
39.59°S |
176.20°E |
2 |
1843 Wanganui earthquake |
| 13 July 1846 |
Snares Islands |
Southland |
6.3 |
|
25 km |
47.00°S |
166.00°E |
|
|
| 19 November 1846 |
Karamea |
West Coast |
6.5 |
|
25 km |
41.00°S |
172.00°E |
|
|
| 4 December 1846 |
Wellington |
Wellington |
6.0 |
|
25 km |
41.00°S |
174.50°E |
|
|
| 16 October 1848 |
Blenheim |
Marlborough |
7.4 |
7.8 |
12 km |
41.89°S |
173.60°E |
3 |
1848 Marlborough earthquake |
| 27 July 1851 |
Motueka |
Tasman |
6.0 |
|
25 km |
41.00°S |
173.00°E |
|
|
| 23 January 1855 |
Lake Wairarapa |
Wairarapa |
8.2 |
8.2 |
33 km |
41.198°S |
175.20°E |
9 |
1855 Wairarapa earthquake |
| 23 February 1863 |
Waipukurau |
Hawke's Bay |
7.5 |
|
25 km |
40.00°S |
176.50°E |
|
1863 Hawke's Bay earthquake |
| 19 October 1868 |
Cape Farewell |
Tasman |
7.2 |
|
12 km |
40.20°S |
173.00°E |
|
Felt throughout Central New Zealand |
| 5 June 1869 |
Christchurch |
Canterbury |
4.7–5.7 |
|
5 km |
43.55°S |
172.60°E |
|
1869 Christchurch earthquake |
| 26 February 1876 |
Oamaru |
Otago |
|
5.8 |
12 km |
45.20°S |
170.90°E |
|
Doublet earthquake: damaging in Oamaru & neighbouring settlements |
| 18 July 1876 |
Palmerston North |
Manawatu |
6.8 |
|
50 km |
40.19°S |
175.80°E |
|
Felt strongly in Palmerston North |
| 25 June 1881 |
Palmerston North |
Manawatu |
6.7 |
|
33 km |
40.39°S |
175.60°E |
|
Felt strongly in Palmerston North |
| 5 December 1881 |
Castle Hill |
Canterbury |
6.0 |
|
12 km |
43.13°S |
171.77°E |
|
Damaged stone buildings in Christchurch, including ChristChurch Cathedral |
| 1 September 1888 |
Lewis Pass |
Canterbury |
7.0 |
7.1 |
12 km |
42.59°S |
172.55°E |
1 |
1888 North Canterbury earthquake |
| 23 June 1891 |
W of Port Waikato |
Waikato |
6.2 |
|
12 km |
37.43°S |
174.43°E |
|
1891 Port Waikato earthquake – Felt quite strongly in the Waikato and Auckland regions. |
| 12 February 1893 |
Nelson |
Tasman Bay |
6.7 |
|
70 km |
40.99°S |
173.80°E |
|
Felt throughout Central New Zealand |
| 18 August 1895 |
Taupō |
Bay of Plenty |
6.0 |
|
12 km |
38.80°S |
176.80°E |
|
Felt throughout Central New Zealand |
| 8 December 1897 |
Wanganui |
Manawatu |
6.5 |
|
40 km |
39.99°S, |
175.00°E |
|
Felt throughout North Island, Strong in Wanganui |
1900–1949
| Date |
Location |
Region |
Magnitude |
Depth |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Fatalities |
Further information |
| (ML) |
(MW) |
| 16 November 1901 |
Cheviot |
North Canterbury |
6.8 |
|
12 km |
42.74°S |
173.35°E |
1 |
1901 Cheviot earthquake |
| 9 August 1904 |
Cape Turnagain |
Hawke's Bay |
7.0 |
7.2 |
16 km |
40.40°S |
176.40°E |
1 |
1904 Cape Turnagain earthquake |
| 12 April 1913 |
Masterton |
Wairarapa |
|
5.6 |
12 km |
41.00°S |
175.7°E |
1 |
Chimney damage in & around Masterton |
| 7 October 1914 |
East Cape |
Gisborne |
6.6 |
6.6 |
12 km |
37.80°S |
178.20°E |
1 |
1914 East Cape earthquakes |
| 22 November 1914 |
Mayor Island |
Bay of Plenty |
|
7.3 |
300 km |
37.50°S |
176.50°E |
|
Felt through North Island, chimney throughout Tairawhiti |
| 1 May 1917 |
Raoul Island |
Kermadec Islands |
|
8.0 |
50 km |
29.00°S |
177.00°W |
|
Felt throughout New Zealand |
| 6 August 1917 |
Tinui |
Wairarapa |
6.8 |
6.8 |
12 km |
40.80°S |
176.00°E |
|
Felt throughout North Island |
| 3 November 1918 |
Puysegur Trench |
South of New Zealand |
6.8 |
|
50 km |
47.00°S |
165.40°E |
|
Felt throughout Southland |
| 29 June 1921 |
Kaweka Forest |
Hawke's Bay |
7.0 |
6.6 |
80 km |
39.30°S |
176.40°E |
|
Felt throughout North Island |
| 25 December 1922 |
Motunau |
North Canterbury |
6.4 |
6.4 |
20 km |
42.99°S |
173.00°E |
|
Felt throughout Upper half of the South Island |
| 17 October 1926 |
Ahimanawa Range |
Hawke's Bay |
|
6.0 |
80 km |
39.00°S |
176.40°E |
|
Felt through Eastern North Island |
| 9 March 1929 |
Arthur's Pass |
Canterbury |
7.0 |
7.0 |
11 km |
42.83°S |
171.83°E |
|
1929 Arthur's Pass earthquake |
| 17 June 1929 |
Murchison |
West Coast |
7.3 |
7.7 |
9 km |
41.69°S |
172.20°E |
17 |
1929 Murchison earthquake |
| 23 June 1929 |
Murchison |
West Coast |
6.5 |
6.2 |
14 km |
41.78°S |
172.32°E |
|
Felt throughout central New Zealand |
| 12 February 1930 |
Porangahau |
Hawke's Bay |
6.2 |
6.2 |
33 km |
40.39°S |
176.55°E |
|
Felt throughout lower half of the North Island |
| 3 February 1931 |
North of Napier |
Hawke's Bay |
7.4 |
7.8 |
20 km |
39.29°S |
177.00°E |
256 |
1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake |
| 13 February 1931 |
East of Napier |
Hawke's Bay |
7.3 |
7.2 |
16 km |
39.55°S |
177.31°E |
|
Aftershock to Mw 7.8 event |
| 7 May 1931 |
Gisborne |
Gisborne |
6.0 |
6.1 |
12 km |
38.76°S |
177.66°E |
|
Chimney damage in Gisborne region |
| 22 September 1931 |
Raukumara Range |
Bay of Plenty |
6.0 |
6.2 |
80 km |
37.81°S |
177.93°E |
|
Felt throughout North Island and upper South Island |
| 5 March 1932 |
White Island |
Bay of Plenty |
6.0 |
6.0 |
30 km |
36.50°S |
178.00°E |
|
Felt throughout upper North Island |
| 16 September 1932 |
Wairoa |
Hawke's Bay |
6.9 |
6.8 |
8 km |
38.95°S |
177.59°E |
|
Caused further damage to the already devastated Hawke's Bay. |
| 5 March 1934 |
Pahiatua |
Manawatu |
7.2 |
7.4 |
12 km |
40.54°S |
176.29°E |
2 |
1934 Pahiatua earthquake |
| 15 March 1934 |
Wairoa |
Hawke's Bay |
6.3 |
6.4 |
25 km |
39.31°S |
177.23°E |
|
Felt strongly in Hawke's Bay and Gisborne |
| 24 May 1936 |
Whakatane |
Bay of Plenty |
6.5 |
|
150 km |
37.99°S |
177.00°E |
|
Felt in North Island |
| 17 December 1938 |
Charles Sound |
Southland |
7.0 |
7.1 |
47 km |
44.99°S |
167.00°E |
|
Felt throughout South Island |
| 11 February 1939 |
Fiordland |
Southland |
7.0 |
|
25 km |
45.00°S |
167.50°E |
|
Felt throughout South Island |
| 26 February 1940 |
Hastings |
Hawke's Bay |
6.0 |
|
25 km |
39.50°S |
176.50°E |
|
Felt throughout North Island |
| 24 June 1942 |
Masterton |
Wairarapa |
6.9 |
7.1 |
12 km |
40.96°S |
175.69°E |
1 |
1942 Wairarapa earthquakes |
| 1 August 1942 |
Masterton |
Wairarapa |
6.8 |
7.0 |
40 km |
41.01°S |
175.52°E |
|
1942 Wairarapa earthquakes |
| 2 December 1942 |
Masteron |
Wairarapa |
6.0 |
6.0 |
20 km |
41.08°S |
175.58°E |
|
Felt throughout lower North Island |
| 17 February 1943 |
Te Anau |
Southland |
6.2 |
6.4 |
36 km |
45.29°S |
168.00°E |
|
Felt throughout South Island |
| 8 May 1943 |
Wanaka |
Otago |
5.9 |
|
50 km |
44.23°S |
169.37°E |
|
Felt throughout lower & central South Island |
| 2 August 1943 |
Te Anau |
Southland |
6.1 |
6.6 |
33 km |
45.77°S |
166.79°E |
|
Felt throughout South Island |
| 2 September 1945 |
Puysegur Bank |
Southland |
6.5 |
7.0 |
12 km |
47.47°S, |
166.12°E |
|
Felt throughout Southland and Otago |
| 27 June 1946 |
Lake Coleridge |
Canterbury |
6.5 |
6.3 |
9 km |
43.18°S |
171.68°E |
|
Felt throughout South Island |
| 26 March 1947 |
Offshore Poverty Bay |
Gisborne |
5.9 |
7.1 |
15 km |
38.85°S |
178.80°E |
|
1947 Gisborne earthquakes and tsunami |
| 17 May 1947 |
Offshore Tolaga Bay |
Gisborne |
5.6 |
7.1 |
15 km |
38.42°S |
178.87°E |
|
1947 Gisborne earthquakes and tsunami |
| 28 August 1947 |
Offshore Mahia Peninsula |
Gisborne |
6.3 |
6.8 |
7 km |
39.35°S |
179.60°E |
|
1947 Gisborne earthquakes and tsunami |
| 13 October 1947 |
Jackson Bay |
West Coast |
6.2 |
6.2 |
18 km |
44.42°S |
168.48°E |
|
Felt throughout southern & central South Island |
| 23 May 1948 |
Waiau |
North Canterbury |
6.4 |
6.4 |
4 km |
42.49°S |
173.00°E |
|
Felt throughout upper South Island; part of sequence |
| 9 February 1949 |
Hāwera |
Taranaki |
6.4 |
|
199 km |
39.67°S |
174.35°E |
|
Felt throughout North Island |
1950–1999
| Date |
Location |
Region |
Magnitude |
Depth |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Fatalities |
Further information |
| (ML) |
(MW) |
| 11 January 1951 |
Cheviot |
North Canterbury |
5.5 |
5.9 |
12 km |
42.79°S |
173.18°E |
|
Felt upper South Island, widespread damage in the Hurunui district |
| 10 February 1951 |
Porangahau |
Hawke's Bay |
6.1 |
6.2 |
33 km |
40.21°S |
177.04°E |
|
Felt throughout North Island |
| 28 March 1951 |
White Island |
Bay of Plenty |
6.4 |
|
394 km |
37.06°S |
176.98°E |
|
Felt throughout North Island |
| 23 April 1951 |
Cape Runaway |
Bay of Plenty |
6.2 |
6.0 |
80 km |
37.53°S |
177.84°E |
|
Felt throughout North Island |
| 24 June 1951 |
Toaroa Junction |
Manawatu |
6.3 |
5.5 |
33 km |
39.45°S |
176.20°E |
|
Felt throughout North Island |
| 28 August 1952 |
Porangahau |
Hawke's Bay |
5.8 |
6.0 |
12 km |
40.08°S |
177.19°E |
|
Felt in the East half of the North Island |
| 29 September 1953 |
Tauranga |
Bay of Plenty |
7.2 |
|
273 km |
37.59°S |
176.48°E |
|
Felt throughout North Island & upper South Island |
| 27 February 1955 |
Raoul Island |
Kermadec Islands |
7.8 |
|
18 km |
28.40°S |
175.37°W |
|
Felt in the East half of the North Island |
| 30 January 1956 |
White Island |
Bay of Plenty |
5.9 |
6.4 |
12 km |
37.10°S |
177.42°E |
|
Felt in Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Auckland |
| 29 December 1956 |
Matawai |
Gisborne |
6.3 |
6.5 |
33 km |
38.30°S |
177.50°E |
|
Felt strongly in Gisborne and eastern Bay of Plenty |
| 31 January 1958 |
Ashley Clinton |
Hawke's Bay |
6.1 |
5.5 |
12 km |
39.85°S |
176.58°E |
|
Felt throughout lower North Island, damaging in Hawke's Bay |
| 10 December 1958 |
Mayor Island |
Bay of Plenty |
6.1 |
|
285 km |
37.27°S |
176.72°E |
|
Felt throughout North Island and upper South Island |
| 14 September 1959 |
Raoul Island |
Kermadec Islands |
|
7.8 |
35 km |
28.82°S |
177.07°W |
|
Felt in the East half of the North Island |
| 28 March 1960 |
Mokau |
Taranaki |
6.6 |
|
237 km |
39.04°S |
174.81°E |
|
Doublet earthquake to 6.5 event |
| 28 March 1960 |
Mokau |
Taranaki |
6.5 |
|
209 km |
39.04°S |
174.77°E |
|
Doublet earthquake to 6.6 event |
| 25 May 1960 |
Milford Sound |
Southland |
6.3 |
6.5 |
12 km |
44.17°S |
167.72°E |
|
Felt throughout South Island |
| 4 February 1961 |
Tauranga |
Bay of Plenty |
6.0 |
|
309 km |
37.66°S |
175.97°E |
|
Felt in the East half of the North Island |
| 27 December 1961 |
Martinborough |
Wellington |
6.2 |
6.5 |
12 km |
41.51°S |
176.11°E |
|
Struck offshore, 65 km east of Martinborough |
| 10 May 1962 |
Westport |
West Coast |
5.6 |
5.9 |
7 km |
41.67°S |
171.44°E |
|
Widespread chimney damage in Westport |
| 18 December 1963 |
Raoul Islands |
Kermadec Islands |
|
7.7 |
35 km |
24.77°S |
176.52°W |
|
Felt in the East half of the North Island |
| 23 December 1963 |
Peria |
Northland |
4.8 |
4.9 |
12 km |
35.08°S |
173.50°E |
|
Largest known Northland earthquakes (doublet); localised chimney damage |
| 11 April 1965 |
Kaikoura |
North Canterbury |
6.1 |
|
12 km |
42.76°S |
174.14°E |
|
Felt in Kaikoura/North Canterbury |
| 21 May 1965 |
George Sound |
Southland |
6.4 |
|
101 km |
44.94°S |
167.36°E |
|
Felt throughout lower South Island |
| 9 December 1965 |
Cape Runaway |
Bay of Plenty |
6.5 |
6.1 |
190 km |
37.00°S |
177.63°E |
|
Felt in the East half of the North Island |
| 4 March 1966 |
Gisborne |
East Cape |
6.0 |
5.6 |
33 km |
38.73°S |
178.11°E |
|
Felt in Gisborne |
| 23 April 1966 |
Cook Strait |
Marlborough |
5.8 |
5.8 |
12 km |
41.64°S |
174.54°E |
|
Caused damage in Wellington; similar to 2013 Cook Strait |
| 24 May 1968 |
Inangahua Junction |
West Coast |
6.7 |
7.1 |
12 km |
41.75°S |
172.04°E |
3 |
1968 Inangahua earthquake |
| 25 September 1968 |
Solander Trough |
Southland |
5.9 |
6.3 |
12 km |
46.53°S |
166.57°E |
|
Felt throughout Southland and Otago |
| 9 January 1972 |
Te Aroha |
Waikato |
5.3 |
5.3 |
12 km |
37.58°S |
175.65°E |
|
Localised chimney damage east of Hamilton |
| 5 January 1973 |
Taumarunui |
King Country |
7.0 |
6.6 |
163 km |
39.03°S |
175.26°E |
|
Felt throughout New Zealand |
| 9 April 1974 |
Dunedin |
Otago |
4.9 |
|
12 km |
45.97°S |
170.52°E |
|
Widespread chimney damage in southern suburbs of Dunedin |
| 5 November 1974 |
Opunake |
Taranaki |
6.0 |
5.4 |
12 km |
39.54°S |
173.46°E |
|
Damage in Taranaki; felt throughout central New Zealand |
| 5 May 1976 |
Milford Sound |
Southland |
6.6 |
6.5 |
12 km |
44.67°S |
167.38°E |
|
Felt throughout lower South Island |
| 15 January 1976 |
Raoul Island |
Kermadec Islands |
|
7.8 |
43 km |
29.21°S |
177.63°W |
|
Foreshock to M 8.2 event |
| 15 January 1976 |
Raoul Island |
Kermadec Islands |
|
8.2 |
31 km |
29.17°S |
177.31°W |
|
Main shock |
| 28 October 1976 |
Te Puke |
Bay of Plenty |
4.9 |
|
12 km |
37.83°S |
176.34°E |
|
Damaging shock in a swarm lasting from August to December 1976 |
| 18 January 1977 |
Cook Strait |
Marlborough |
6.0 |
6.0 |
33 km |
41.84°S |
174.58°E |
|
Damaging in Wellington; felt throughout central New Zealand |
| 12 October 1979 |
Puysegur Trench |
South of New Zealand |
6.5 |
7.3 |
12 km |
46.70°S |
166.03°E |
|
Felt throughout lower South Island |
| 8 March 1984 |
Matawai |
Bay of Plenty |
6.4 |
5.9 |
75 km |
38.20°S |
177.44°E |
|
Felt throughout North Island |
| 25 June 1984 |
Macauley River |
Canterbury |
5.9 |
6.1 |
12 km |
43.59°S |
170.63°E |
|
Felt throughout central South Island |
| 31 December 1984 |
White Island |
Bay of Plenty |
6.3 |
|
12 km |
36.59°S |
177.55°E |
|
Felt around the Bay of Plenty |
| 26 September 1985 |
Kermadec Trench |
Kermadec Islands |
7.0 |
6.9 |
33 km |
34.64°S |
178.02°W |
|
Felt in East half of North Island |
| 21 October 1986 |
Raoul Island |
Kermadec Islands |
|
7.7 |
29 km |
28.12°S |
176.37°W |
|
|
| 2 March 1987 |
Edgecumbe |
Bay of Plenty |
6.1 |
6.5 |
10 km |
37.88°S |
176.80°E |
1 |
1987 Edgecumbe earthquake |
| 9 March 1987 |
Pegasus Bay |
Canterbury |
5.2 |
|
30 km |
43.22°S |
173.20°E |
|
Damaging in Christchurch |
| 4 June 1988 |
Te Anau |
Southland |
6.1 |
6.7 |
73 km |
45.12°S |
167.29°E |
|
Damaging in Te Anau & Queenstown; felt throughout South Island |
| 24 May 1989 |
Puysegur Trench |
South of New Zealand |
|
8.2 |
|
|
|
|
Felt in the South Island |
| 31 May 1989 |
Doubtful Sound |
Southland |
6.1 |
6.4 |
23 km |
45.33°S |
166.87°E |
|
Felt in lower South Island |
| 10 February 1990 |
Lake Tennyson |
North Canterbury |
5.8 |
5.9 |
8 km |
42.25°S |
172.65°E |
|
Felt in upper South Island; widespread landsliding |
| 19 February 1990 |
Weber |
Manawatu |
5.9 |
6.2 |
23 km |
40.47°S |
176.44°E |
|
Foreshock to M6.4 event |
| 13 May 1990 |
Weber |
Manawatu |
6.2 |
6.4 |
11 km |
40.43°S |
176.47°E |
|
Mainshock |
| 28 January 1991 |
Buller Ranges |
West Coast |
6.1 |
5.8 |
10 km |
41.90°S |
171.65°E |
|
Foreshock to M 6.3 event |
| 29 January 1991 |
Buller Ranges |
West Coast |
6.3 |
6.0 |
17.3 km |
41.90°S |
171.72°E |
|
Mainshock |
| 9 September 1991 |
South Taranaki Bight |
Manawatu |
6.3 |
5.6 |
86 km |
40.24°S |
175.16°E |
|
Felt throughout North Island |
| 27 May 1992 |
Wairau Valley |
Marlborough |
6.8 |
5.9 |
79 km |
41.60°S |
173.66°E |
|
Felt in Central New Zealand |
| 21 June 1992 |
White Island |
Bay of Plenty |
6.1 |
6.3 |
5 km |
37.57°S |
176.82°E |
|
Felt in Bay of Plenty |
| 11 April 1993 |
Tikokino |
Hawke's Bay |
6.1 |
6.0 |
25 km |
39.73°S |
176.71°E |
|
Felt strongly throughout Hawke's Bay |
| 10 August 1993 |
Secretary Island |
Southland |
6.7 |
6.8 |
22 km |
45.21°S |
166.70°E |
|
Felt as far away as Australia |
| 10 August 1993 |
Ormond |
East Cape |
6.3 |
6.2 |
39 km |
38.53°S |
177.91°E |
|
Felt strongly in Gisborne. |
| 18 June 1994 |
Arthur's Pass |
Canterbury |
6.7 |
6.7 |
4 km |
43.00°S |
171.47°E |
|
reverse slip mainshock |
| 19 June 1994 |
Lake Coleridge |
Canterbury |
6.1 |
|
5 km |
43.16°S |
171.47°E |
|
Triggered from the M 6.7 Arthur's Pass event |
| 6 February 1995 |
Offshore East Cape |
Gisborne |
7.0 |
7.5 |
15 km |
37.65°S |
179.49°E |
|
Felt in East half of North Island |
| 10 February 1995 |
NE of New Zealand |
East Cape |
6.6 |
|
12 km |
37.92°7S |
179.51°E |
|
|
| 24 November 1995 |
Arthur's Pass |
Canterbury |
6.3 |
|
7 km |
42.95°S |
171.81°E |
|
Felt strongly in the South Island |
| 25 May 1997 |
Raoul Island |
Kermadec Islands |
|
7.9 |
339 km |
33.61°S |
177.80°E |
|
Felt throughout North Island and upper half of the South Island |
| 20 April 1998 |
Taumarunui |
King Country |
6.7 |
|
232 km |
39.02°S |
174.92°E |
|
Felt throughout the North Island |
| 26 October 1999 |
Taupō |
Waikato |
|
6.2 |
160 km |
38.56°S |
175.91°E |
|
Felt throughout New Zealand |
2000–2009
| Date |
Location |
Region |
Magnitude |
Depth |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Fatalities |
Further information |
| (ML) |
(MW) |
| 15 August 2000 |
L'Esperance Rock |
Kermadec Islands |
7.6 |
|
436 km |
31.94°S |
178.55°E |
|
Felt in Christchurch |
| 1 November 2000 |
Fiordland |
Southland |
6.2 |
|
9 km |
45.12°S |
166.95°E |
|
|
| 21 August 2001 |
NE of New Zealand |
East Cape |
7.1 |
7.1 |
33 km |
36.98°S |
179.16°E |
|
Felt in the Gisborne area |
| 21 October 2001 |
NE of New Zealand |
East Cape |
6.3 |
|
12 km |
36.89°S |
179.86°E |
|
Felt in the Gisborne area |
| 8 December 2001 |
Haast |
West Coast |
6.2 |
|
5 km |
44.11°S |
168.60°E |
|
Mainshock |
| 22 August 2003 |
Fiordland |
Southland |
7.0 |
7.2 |
24 km |
45.19°S, |
166.83°E |
|
2003 Fiordland earthquake |
| 18 July 2004 |
Lake Rotomā |
Bay of Plenty |
5.1 |
5.4 |
5 km |
38.01°S, |
176.51°E |
1 |
Part of a swarm of earthquakes in the area |
| 22 November 2004 |
Puysegur Trench |
South of New Zealand |
7.1 |
7.0 |
12 km |
46.57°S |
165.08°E |
|
Reportedly felt as far north as Hamilton. |
| 24 December 2004 |
Macquarie Ridge |
South of New Zealand |
|
8.1 |
35 km |
49.31°S |
161.35°E |
|
2004 Tasman Sea earthquake |
| 14 March 2005 |
W of New Zealand |
Btw. Taranaki & Tasman |
6.4 |
|
154 km |
40.17°S |
173.63°E |
|
Felt strongly throughout central New Zealand |
| 16 May 2006 |
L'Esperance Rock |
Kermadec Islands |
7.5 |
7.4 |
150 km |
31.56°S, |
179.30°W |
|
Felt in East half of New Zealand |
| 16 May 2006 |
Raoul Island |
Kermadec Islands |
7.1 |
|
33 km |
31.98°S, |
177.21°W |
|
Felt in East half on North Island |
| 16 October 2007 |
Fiordland |
Southland |
6.7 |
6.7 |
5 km |
44.72°S |
167.39°E |
|
Felt lower half of the South Island |
| 9 December 2007 |
Raoul Island |
Kermadec Islands |
|
7.8 |
152 km |
25.99°S |
177.51°W |
|
Felt in East half of New Zealand |
| 20 December 2007 |
Gisborne |
East Cape |
6.7 |
6.6 |
44 km |
38.89°S |
178.44°E |
1 |
2007 Gisborne earthquake |
| 25 August 2008 |
Hastings |
Hawke's Bay |
5.9 |
5.5 |
32 km |
−39.72°S |
176.85°E |
|
Slight damage in Napier and Hastings |
| 15 July 2009 |
Puysegur Trench |
South of New Zealand |
6.1 |
|
33 km |
46.07°S |
165.75°E |
|
Felt throughout Southland and Otago |
| 15 July 2009 |
Dusky Sound |
Southland |
|
7.8 |
12 km |
45.76°S |
166.58°E |
|
2009 Fiordland earthquake |
2010–2019
| Date |
Location |
Region |
Magnitude |
Depth |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Fatalities |
Further information |
| (ML) |
(MW) |
(Mb) |
| 4 September 2010 |
Darfield |
Canterbury |
7.1 |
7.0 |
6.4 |
11 km |
43.52°S |
172.16°E |
2 |
2010 Canterbury earthquake |
| 22 February 2011 |
Christchurch |
Canterbury |
6.3 |
6.1 |
6.1 |
6 km |
43.58S |
172.67E |
185 |
2011 Christchurch earthquake |
| 13 June 2011 |
Christchurch |
Canterbury |
6.4 |
5.9 |
6.0 |
7 km |
43.56°S |
172.73°E |
1 |
June 2011 Christchurch earthquake |
| 5 July 2011 |
Taupō |
Waikato |
6.5 |
5.5 |
5.4 |
153 km |
38.65°S |
175.70°E |
|
Felt throughout New Zealand. |
| 7 July 2011 |
Raoul Island |
Kermadec Islands |
7.6 |
7.6 |
7.0 |
20 km |
29.31°S |
176.20°W |
|
Felt as far away as Christchurch. |
| 22 October 2011 |
Raoul Island |
Kermadec Islands |
7.3 |
7.4 |
6.5 |
33 km |
28.99°S |
176.18°W |
|
Felt in eastern half of the North Island. |
| 23 December 2011 |
Christchurch |
Canterbury |
6.0 |
5.9 |
5.7 |
7 km |
43.52°S |
172.74°E |
1 |
Caused damage in the Christchurch region. |
| 21 July 2013 |
Cook Strait |
Marlborough |
6.5 |
6.5 |
6.1 |
17 km |
41.61°S |
174.33°E |
|
2013 Seddon earthquake |
| 16 August 2013 |
Lake Grassmere |
Marlborough |
6.6 |
6.5 |
6.0 |
8 km |
41.73°S |
174.15°E |
|
2013 Lake Grassmere earthquake |
| 16 August 2013 |
Lake Grassmere |
Marlborough |
6.0 |
5.9 |
5.8 |
8 km |
41.67°S |
174.26°E |
|
Largest aftershock to 2013 Lake Grassmere earthquake |
| 20 January 2014 |
Eketāhuna |
Wairarapa |
6.2 |
6.1 |
5.8 |
34 km |
40.62°S |
175.85°E |
|
2014 Eketāhuna earthquake |
| 13 October 2014 |
Fiordland |
Southland |
6.2 |
5.8 |
5.4 |
9 km |
46.29°S |
165.87°E |
|
|
| 14 October 2014 |
NE of Whakatane |
Bay of Plenty |
6.8 |
6.5 |
6.4 |
82 km |
34.90°S |
179.65°E |
|
|
| 17 November 2014 |
NE of Gisborne |
Gisborne |
6.5 |
6.7 |
6.2 |
22 km |
37.68°S |
179.68°E |
1 |
Felt strongly across the North Island |
| 6 January 2015 |
W of Arthur's Pass |
Canterbury |
6.0 |
5.6 |
5.5 |
5 km |
43.06°S |
171.25°E |
|
Felt throughout the South Island |
| 24 April 2015 |
SE of St Arnaud |
Marlborough |
6.2 |
6.1 |
6.0 |
52 km |
42.09°S |
173.07°E |
|
Felt throughout New Zealand |
| 4 May 2015 |
W of Wānaka |
Otago |
6.2 |
5.8 |
6.1 |
4 km |
44.54°S |
168.84°E |
|
Felt throughout lower South Island |
| 2 February 2016 |
E of Macauley Island |
Kermadec Islands |
6.6 |
6.2 |
6.3 |
366 km |
31.65°S |
177.74°E |
|
Felt widely in the North Island. |
| 14 February 2016 |
Christchurch |
Canterbury |
5.7 |
5.8 |
|
15 km |
43.5°S |
172.83°E |
|
2016 Christchurch earthquake |
| 2 September 2016 |
NE of East Cape |
East Cape |
7.1 |
7.1 |
|
55 km |
37.01°S |
179.63°E |
|
2016 Te Araroa earthquake |
| 14 November 2016 |
Culverden |
North Canterbury |
7.8 |
7.8 |
|
15 km |
42.757°S |
173.077°E |
2 |
2016 Kaikōura earthquake |
| 30 October 2018 |
SW of Taumarunui |
Manawatū-Whanganui |
6.5 |
|
6.2 |
207 km |
39.03°S |
175.01°E |
|
Felt widely in the North Island. |
2020–present
| Date |
Location |
Region |
Magnitude |
Depth |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Fatalities |
Further information |
| (ML) |
(MW) |
(Mb) |
| 19 June 2020 |
SE of L'Esperance Rock |
Kermadec Islands |
7.4 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
10 km |
33.46°S |
177.44°W |
|
|
| 5 March 2021 |
East of East Cape |
Gisborne |
7.0 |
7.1 |
7.1 |
90 km |
37.42°S |
179.54°W |
|
Felt throughout New Zealand |
| 5 March 2021 |
S of Raoul Island |
Kermadec Islands |
|
7.4 |
|
56 km |
29.61°S |
177.84°W |
|
|
| 5 March 2021 |
S of Raoul Island |
Kermadec Islands |
|
8.1 |
|
19 km |
29.74°S |
177.28°W |
|
2021 Kermadec Islands earthquake |
| 6 March 2021 |
NE of Gisborne |
Gisborne |
|
6.3 |
|
13 km |
37.605°S |
179.598°E |
|
|
| 20 June 2021 |
S of Raoul Island |
Kermadec Islands |
|
6.5 |
6.4 |
25 km |
30.216°S |
177.845°W |
|
Aftershock of the 2021 Kermadec Islands earthquake |
| 2 March 2022 |
S of Raoul Island |
Kermadec Islands |
|
6.6 |
6.5 |
24 km |
30.076°S |
177.728°W |
|
|
| 15 February 2023 |
NW of Paraparaumu |
Wellington |
6.1 |
6.0 |
6.3 |
50 km |
40.56°S |
174.56°W |
|
|
| 24 April 2023 |
Kermadec Islands |
|
|
7.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 20 September 2023 |
45 km north of Geraldine |
Canterbury |
5.7 |
6.0 |
6.3 |
10 km |
43.70°S |
171.07°W |
|
|
See also
