
Earthquakes in New Zealand
In New Zealand there are very strong earthquakes with far-reaching consequences. Earthquakes with a magnitude of over 8.0 destroy numerous houses within a radius of several hundred kilometers and are causing great damage and devastation. Due to the special tectonic situation of the country, there are more earthquakes than average.Since 1950 more than 190 people have been killed by direct consequences of earthquakes. 26 earthquakes also caused a subsequent tsunami, which claimed further lifes and damages.
Other natural hazards in New Zealand:
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› Tsunamis
› Cyclones
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Most recent events
This list includes the strongest earthquakes recorded in or around New Zealand by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the past 14 days. Whether an event is listed here depends largely on its magnitude, but also on its distance from inhabited areas. All data refer to the local time. This page is updated daily at 11am UTC.- Jun 22, 8:30 amMagnitude 4.9: south of the Kermadec Islands at a depth of 10 km.
- Jun 18, 3:05 pmMagnitude 4.9: south of the Kermadec Islands at a depth of 18.77 km.
- Jun 18, 2:49 amMagnitude 5.2: south of the Kermadec Islands at a depth of 10 km.
- Jun 12, 6:26 amMagnitude 4.6: 201 km north-northeast of Opotiki at a depth of 114.73 km.
Earthquakes in New Zealand since 1950

Date | Region | Depth | Magnitude | Deaths | Total damage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
01/29/2022 | Kermadec Islands | 10 km | 6.5 | 0 | |
03/04/2021 | Sse Of Raoul Island | 19 km | 8.1 | 0 | |
03/04/2021 | Gisborne | 20 km | 7.3 | 0 | |
03/04/2021 | S Of, Raoul | 55 km | 7.4 | 0 | |
06/18/2020 | S Of, Raoul | 10 km | 7.4 | 0 | |
06/15/2019 | S Of, Raoul | 34 km | 7.2 | 0 | |
11/13/2016 | Amberley | 34 km | 7.8 | 2 | |
09/01/2016 | Gisborne | 3 km | 7.0 | 0 | |
06/23/2014 | Sse Of Raoul Island | 34 km | 6.9 | 0 | |
01/20/2014 | Wellington, Manawatu-Wanganui | 35 km | 6.1 | 0 | |
08/16/2013 | Wellington, Marlborough | 47 km | 6.5 | 0 | |
07/21/2013 | Cook Strait | 31 km | 6.5 | 0 | |
12/23/2011 | South Island (Christchurch) | 38 km | 5.8 | 0 | |
12/03/2011 | Cook Strait | 10 km | 5.3 | 0 | |
10/21/2011 | Kermadec Islands | 16 km | 7.4 | 0 | |
07/06/2011 | Kermadec Islands | 18 km | 7.6 | 0 | |
06/13/2011 | South Island (Canterbury) | 49 km | 6.0 | 1 | |
02/21/2011 | Christchurch, Lyttelton | 42 km | 6.1 | 181 | |
12/25/2010 | Christchurch | 15 km | 4.5 | 0 | |
09/07/2010 | South Island (Canterbury) | 57 km | 5.0 | 0 | |
09/06/2010 | North Island (Porangahau) | 33 km | 5.1 | 0 | |
09/06/2010 | South Island (Christchurch) | 1 km | 5.0 | 0 | |
09/03/2010 | Christchurch | 47 km | 7.0 | 0 | |
07/15/2009 | Off West Coast Of South Island | 29 km | 7.8 | 0 | |
08/25/2008 | North Island | 19 km | 5.5 | 0 | |
12/20/2007 | Off Coast North Island | 15 km | 6.6 | 1 | |
12/09/2007 | Kermadec Islands | 20 km | 7.8 | 0 | |
10/15/2007 | South Island (Fiordland) | 36 km | 6.8 | 0 | |
09/30/2007 | Auckland Islands | 34 km | 7.4 | 0 | |
01/20/2005 | North Island | 30 km | 5.3 | 0 | |
11/22/2004 | Invercargill, Southland, Otago | 23 km | 7.1 | 0 | |
07/18/2004 | North Island (Rotorua, Tauranga) | 22 km | 5.4 | 1 | |
09/29/2003 | Christchurch | 32 km | 4.8 | 0 | |
08/21/2003 | Dunedin, invercargill, te Anau, fiordland | 49 km | 7.2 | 0 | |
02/05/1995 | North Island; S Island (Christchurch) | 5 km | 7.1 | 0 | |
06/18/1994 | South Island (Christchurch) | 15 km | 6.8 | 0 | |
06/18/1993 | Kermadec Islands | 54 km | 6.6 | 0 | |
09/08/1991 | Wellington, Wanganui | 30 km | 5.6 | 0 | |
05/13/1990 | Dannevirke, Wellington | 9 km | 6.3 | 0 | |
03/02/1987 | North Island, Whakatani, Edgecumbe | 34 km | 6.6 | 1 | |
10/20/1986 | Raoul | 9 km | 8.1 | 0 | |
05/25/1981 | W Of North Island | 14 km | 7.6 | 0 | |
10/05/1980 | Gisborne, Hawera, Eastbourne, Napier | 49 km | 5.6 | 0 | |
10/12/1979 | W Of North Island | 22 km | 7.5 | 0 | |
02/09/1978 | S Of | 12 km | 7.7 | 0 | |
01/14/1976 | Kermadec Islands | 34 km | 7.8 | 0 | |
01/14/1976 | Kermadec Islands | 33 km | 8.0 | 0 | |
02/21/1973 | Hawkes Bay | 23 km | 5.1 | 0 | |
09/28/1970 | New Zealand | 5.1 | 0 | ||
07/25/1968 | S Of, Raoul | 7 km | 7.3 | 0 | |
05/23/1968 | South Island (Nw Coast) | 7.1 | 3 | ||
03/07/1961 | Kermadec Islands | 7.5 | 0 | ||
09/14/1959 | Kermadec Islands | 7.7 | 0 | ||
03/02/1956 | North Island | 5.3 | 0 | ||
02/27/1955 | Kermadec Islands | 7.8 | 0 | ||
03/14/1950 | N. New Zealand | 41 km | 5.8 | 0 |
These statistics are based on datas from the National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Several data have been summarized and translated.