List of earthquakes in New Zealand explained

New Zealand earthquakes 1960 to 2020^[1] !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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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.^[4] 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.^[4]

Pre-19th century

Date! rowspan=2

Location	Region	Magnitude		Depth	Latitude	Longitude	Further information
(ML)		(MW)
1100		South Island	7.6–8.3					^[5]
1450		South Island	7.6–8.3
1460		Wellington	8.0	8.0	25 km	41.39°S	174.80°E	Haowhenua earthquake^[6]
1620		South Island	7.6–8.3					^[7]
1717		South Island	8.1

19th century

Information for earthquakes before 1840 are later estimates.

Date! rowspan=2

Location	Region	Magnitude		Depth	Latitude	Longitude	Fatalities	Further information
(ML)		(MW)
1815			6.5^[8]		25 km	38.99°S	174.00°E
1817			6.5^[9]		25 km	45.99°S	167.00°E
1826			7.5^[10]		25 km	44.99°S	167.00°E
1835			6.5^[11]		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^[12]
1838	Waitotara Forest		6.5 ^[13]		25 km	39.39°S	176.10°E
26 May 1840			6.0^[14]		25 km	41.00°S	175.00°E
8 July 1843			7.6^[15]	7.6	12 km	39.59°S	176.20°E	2	1843 Wanganui earthquake
13 July 1846			6.3^[16]		25 km	47.00°S	166.00°E
19 November 1846			6.5^[17]		25 km	41.00°S	172.00°E
4 December 1846			6.0^[18]		25 km	41.00°S	174.50°E
16 October 1848			7.4^[19]	7.8	12 km	41.89°S	173.60°E	3	1848 Marlborough earthquake
27 July 1851			6.0^[20]		25 km	41.00°S	173.00°E
23 January 1855	Lake Wairarapa		8.2^[21]	8.2	33 km	41.198°S	175.20°E	9	1855 Wairarapa earthquake^[22] ^[23] ^[24] ^[25]
23 February 1863			7.5^[26]		25 km	40.00°S	176.50°E		1863 Hawke's Bay earthquake^[27] ^[28]
19 October 1868	Cape Farewell	Tasman	7.2^[29]		12 km^[30]	40.20°S	173.00°E		Felt throughout Central New Zealand
5 June 1869		Canterbury	4.7^[31] –5.7^[32]		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^[33]		50 km	40.19°S	175.80°E		Felt strongly in Palmerston North
25 June 1881	Palmerston North	Manawatu	6.7^[34]		33 km	40.39°S	175.60°E		Felt strongly in Palmerston North
5 December 1881	Castle Hill^[35]	Canterbury	6.0^[36]		12 km	43.13°S	171.77°E		Damaged stone buildings in Christchurch, including ChristChurch Cathedral^[37]
1 September 1888	Lewis Pass	Canterbury	7.0^[38]	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^[39]		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^[40]		70 km	40.99°S	173.80°E		Felt throughout Central New Zealand
18 August 1895	Taupō	Bay of Plenty	6.0^[41]		12 km	38.80°S	176.80°E		Felt throughout Central New Zealand
8 December 1897		Manawatu	6.5^[42]		40 km	39.99°S,	175.00°E		Felt throughout North Island, Strong in Wanganui

1900–1949

Date! rowspan=2

Location	Region	Magnitude		Depth	Latitude	Longitude	Fatalities	Further information
(ML)		(MW)
16 November 1901	Cheviot	North Canterbury	6.8^[43]		12 km	42.74°S	173.35°E	1	1901 Cheviot earthquake
9 August 1904	Cape Turnagain	Hawke's Bay	7.0^[44]	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^[45]	Chimney damage in & around Masterton
7 October 1914	East Cape	Gisborne	6.6^[46]	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				8.0	50 km	29.00°S	177.00°W		Felt throughout New Zealand^[47]
6 August 1917	Tinui	Wairarapa	6.8^[48]	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^[49]		50 km	47.00°S	165.40°E		Felt throughout Southland
29 June 1921	Kaweka Forest	Hawke's Bay	7.0^[50] ^[51]	6.6	80 km	39.30°S	176.40°E		Felt throughout North Island
25 December 1922		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^[52]	7.0	11 km	42.83°S	171.83°E		1929 Arthur's Pass earthquake
17 June 1929	Murchison	West Coast	7.3^[53]	7.7	9 km	41.69°S	172.20°E	17	1929 Murchison earthquake
23 June 1929	Murchison	West Coast	6.5^[54]	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^[55]	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^[56]	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^[57]	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^[58]	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	Whakatāne	Bay of Plenty	6.5^[59]		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^[60]		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^[61]	7.1	12 km	40.96°S	175.69°E	1^[62]	1942 Wairarapa earthquakes
1 August 1942	Masterton	Wairarapa	6.8^[63]	7.0	40 km	41.01°S	175.52°E
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^[64]	6.6	33 km	45.77°S	166.79°E		Felt throughout South Island
2 September 1945	Puysegur Bank	Southland	6.5^[65]	7.0	12 km	47.47°S,	166.12°E		Felt throughout Southland and Otago
27 June 1946	Lake Coleridge	Canterbury	6.5^[66]	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! rowspan=2

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^[67]
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^[68]		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^[69]		237 km	39.04°S	174.81°E		Doublet earthquake to 6.5 event
28 March 1960	Mokau	Taranaki	6.5^[70]		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	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		West Coast	6.7^[71]	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			7.7^[72]	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^[73]	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		Canterbury	6.7^[74]	6.7	4 km	43.00°S	171.47°E		Reverse slip mainshock^[75]
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		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^[76]		232 km	39.02°S	174.92°E		Felt throughout the North Island
26 October 1999	Taupō	Waikato		6.2^[77]	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^[78]		436 km	31.94°S	178.55°E		Felt in Christchurch
1 November 2000	Fiordland	Southland	6.2^[79]		9 km	45.12°S	166.95°E
21 August 2001	NE of New Zealand	East Cape	7.1^[80]	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^[81]	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^[82]	5 km	38.01°S,	176.51°E	1^[83] ^[84]	Part of a swarm of earthquakes in the area
22 November 2004	Puysegur Trench	South of New Zealand	7.1^[85]	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^[86]	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^[87]	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^[88]	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^[89]	6.6	44 km	38.89°S	178.44°E	1^[90]	2007 Gisborne earthquake
25 August 2008	Hastings	Hawke's Bay	5.9^[91]	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^[92]		33 km	46.07°S	165.75°E		Felt throughout Southland and Otago
15 July 2009	Dusky Sound	Southland		7.8^[93]	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		Canterbury	7.1	7.0	6.4	11 km	43.52°S	172.16°E	2	2010 Canterbury earthquake^[94] ^[95]
26 December 2010	Christchurch	Canterbury	4.9	4.7		5 km	43.55°S	172.63°E		December 2010 Christchurch earthquake^[96]
22 February 2011	Christchurch	Canterbury	6.3	6.1	6.1	6 km	43.58S	172.67E	185^[97]	2011 Christchurch earthquake^[98] ^[99]
13 June 2011	Christchurch	Canterbury	6.4	5.9	6.0	7 km	43.56°S	172.73°E	1	June 2011 Christchurch earthquake^[100] ^[101]
5 July 2011	Taupō	Waikato	6.5	5.5	5.4	153 km	38.65°S	175.70°E		Felt throughout New Zealand.^[102] ^[103]
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.^[104] ^[105]
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.^[106] ^[107]
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.^[108] ^[109]
21 July 2013	Cook Strait	Marlborough	6.5	6.5	6.1	17 km	41.61°S	174.33°E		2013 Seddon earthquake^[110] ^[111]
16 August 2013		Marlborough	6.6	6.5	6.0	8 km	41.73°S	174.15°E		2013 Lake Grassmere earthquake^[112] ^[113]
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^[114] ^[115]
20 January 2014		Wairarapa	6.2	6.1	5.8	34 km	40.62°S	175.85°E		2014 Eketāhuna earthquake^[116] ^[117]
13 October 2014		Southland	6.2	5.8	5.4	9 km	46.29°S	165.87°E		^[118] ^[119]
14 October 2014		Bay of Plenty	6.8	6.5	6.4	82 km	34.90°S	179.65°E		^[120] ^[121]
17 November 2014		Gisborne	6.5	6.7	6.2	22 km	37.68°S	179.68°E	1	Felt strongly across the North Island^[122] ^[123]
6 January 2015		Canterbury	6.0	5.6	5.5	5 km	43.06°S	171.25°E		Felt throughout the South Island^[124] ^[125]
24 April 2015		Marlborough	6.2	6.1	6.0	52 km	42.09°S	173.07°E		Felt throughout New Zealand^[126] ^[127]
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^[128]
2 February 2016		Kermadec Islands	6.6	6.2	6.3	366 km	31.65°S	177.74°E		Felt widely in the North Island.^[129]
14 February 2016		Canterbury	5.7	5.8		15 km	43.5°S	172.83°E		2016 Christchurch earthquake^[130] ^[131]
2 September 2016		East Cape	7.1	7.1		55 km	37.01°S	179.63°E		2016 Te Araroa earthquake^[132] ^[133]
14 November 2016		North Canterbury	7.8	7.8^[134] ^[135]		15 km	42.757°S	173.077°E	2^[136]	2016 Kaikōura earthquake^[137]
30 October 2018		Manawatū-Whanganui	6.5		6.2	207 km	39.03°S	175.01°E		Felt widely in the North Island.^[138]

2020–present

Date	Location	Region	Magnitude			Depth	Latitude	Longitude	Fatalities	Further information
			(ML)	(MW)	(Mb)
19 June 2020	SE of L'Esperance Rock		7.4	7.3	7.3	10 km	33.46°S	177.44°W		^[139]
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^[140]
5 March 2021	S of Raoul Island	Kermadec Islands		7.4		56 km	29.61°S	177.84°W		^[141]
5 March 2021	S of Raoul Island	Kermadec Islands		8.1		19 km	29.74°S	177.28°W		2021 Kermadec Islands earthquake^[142]
6 March 2021		Gisborne		6.3		13 km	37.605°S	179.598°E		^[143]
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^[144]
2 March 2022	S of Raoul Island	Kermadec Islands		6.6	6.5	24 km	30.076°S	177.728°W		^[145]
15 February 2023	NW of Paraparaumu	Wellington	6.1	6.0	6.3	50 km	40.56°S	174.56°W		^[146]
24 April 2023	Kermadec Islands			7.1						^[147]
20 September 2023	45 km north of Geraldine	Canterbury	5.7	6.0	6.3	10 km	43.70°S	171.07°W		^[148]

See also

• Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act 2010
• Earthquake Commission
• Geology of New Zealand
• List of disasters in New Zealand by death toll
• List of tsunamis affecting New Zealand
• Shaky Isles – a nickname for New Zealand
• Volcanism of New Zealand

Further reading

• Book: Dench, Alison . 2005 . Essential Dates: A Timeline of New Zealand History . Auckland . Random House . 978-1-86941-689-8.
• Eiby, G. A. (1957); Earthquakes (London, Frederick Muller) Page 159 has Table of (16) Major Earthquakes in New Zealand 1848–1942, from R. C. Hayes.
• Henderson, J (1937); The West Nelson Earthquakes of 1929, Bulletin No. 55 of Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (Wellington, Government Printer)
• Book: Rogers, Anna . The Shaky Isles: New Zealand Earthquakes . 2 . 1996 . 2013 . Grantham House . Wellington . 978-1-86934-119-0.
• Book: Wright, Matthew . Living on shaky ground: The science and story behind New Zealand's earthquakes. 2014 . Random House (New Zealand) . Auckland . 978-1-77553-688-8.

External links

• Geonet: NZ's geological hazard monitoring system
• GNS Science: NZ Government research site
• Simulation of a Magnitude 8.4 Megathrust Quake in New Zealand – GNS Science

Notes and References

1. Web site: GeoNet Earthquake Statistics. 17 August 2021. www.geonet.org.nz. en.
2. Encyclopedia: McSaveney . Eileen . Earthquakes – What causes earthquakes? . Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand . 12 June 2006 . 3 September 2016.
3. Book: Bartley, Bryan . John. La Roche . John La Roche . Evolving Auckland: The City's Engineering Heritage . 2011 . Wily Publications . From 1840 to the Present – an Overview . Bryan Bartley . 16–21 . 978-1-927167-03-8.
4. Encyclopedia: McSaveney . Eileen . Earthquakes – Building for earthquake resistance . Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand . 21 September 2007 .
5. Web site: Alpine Fault . GNS Science . 29 November 2011.
6. Encyclopedia: Creation stories and landscape – Wellington region. Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand . Chris . Maclean . 3 March 2009 . 29 November 2011.
7. Floodplain and regional scale variation in earthquake effects on forests, Westland, New Zealand . Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand . 33 . 4 . 693–701. Louise E. Cullen . Richard P. Duncan . Andrew Wells . Glenn H. Stewart . 2003 . 10.1080/03014223.2003.9517753 . 2003JRSNZ..33..693C . 128753028 .
8. News: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
9. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
10. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
11. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
12. Eiby. G. A.. 1 August 1968. An annotated list of New Zealand earthquakes, 1460–1965. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 11. 3. 630–647. 10.1080/00288306.1968.10420275. 1968NZJGG..11..630E . 0028-8306. free.
13. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
14. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
15. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
16. News: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
17. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
18. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
19. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
20. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
21. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 22 November 2016.
22. Web site: M 8.2, Wairarapa, January 23, 1855 . GeoNet. 22 November 2016.
23. McSaveney, M.J. . Graham, I.J. . Begg, J.G. . Beu, A.G. . Hull, A.G. . Kyeong, K. . Zondervan, A. . 2006 . Late Holocene uplift of beach ridges at Turakirae Head, south Wellington coast, New Zealand . New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics . 49 . 3 . 337–358 . 10.1080/00288306.2006.9515172 . 2006NZJGG..49..337M . 129074978 . free .
24. Rodgers . D.W. . Little T.A. . 2006. World's largest coseismic strike-slip offset: The 1855 rupture of the Wairarapa Fault, New Zealand, and implications for displacement/length scaling of continental earthquakes. Journal of Geophysical Research . 111 . B12408 . B12408 . 10.1029/2005JB004065 . 2006JGRB..11112408R .
25. Encyclopedia: Historic earthquakes – The 1855 Wairarapa earthquake . McSaveney . Eileen . 2 March 2009. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand . 26 December 2011.
26. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 22 November 2016.
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29. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
30. Web site: M 7.2 – 7.6, Cape Farewell, 19 October 1868 . GeoNet. 22 November 2016.
31. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 22 November 2016.
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34. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
35. Web site: New Zealand's deadliest earthquakes and past earthquakes in Christchurch. Natural Hazards Research Platform. 6 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20110909123008/http://www.naturalhazards.org.nz/NHRP/Hazard-themes/Geological-Hazards/February-22nd-aftershock/New-Zealand-s-deadliest-earthquakes-and-past-earthquakes-in-Christchurch. 9 September 2011.
36. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
37. News: City Council . 14 April 2013 . . 20 December 1881. 4263. 4.
38. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
39. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
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41. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
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47. Web site: Magnitude 8 and Greater Earthquakes Since 1900 . United States Geological Survey . 15 March 2012.
48. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
49. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
50. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
51. Eiby. G. A.. 1968. An annotated list of New Zealand earthquakes, 1460–1965. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 11. 3. 630–647. 10.1080/00288306.1968.10420275. 1968NZJGG..11..630E . 0028-8306. free.
52. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
53. News: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
54. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
55. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
56. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
57. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
58. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
59. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
60. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
61. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
62. http://info.geonet.org.nz/display/quake/M+7.2%2C+Wairarapa+I%2C+24+June+1942 M 7.2, Wairarapa I, 24 June 1942
63. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
64. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
65. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
66. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
67. Web site: Quakes . GeoNet.org.nz . 10 February 1951 . 2 February 2016.
68. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
69. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
70. News: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
71. Web site: M 7.1, Inangahua, 24 May 1968 . GeoNet . . 19 November 2016.
72. Web site: M 7.7 – Kermadec Islands region . United States Geological Survey . 27 April 2021.
73. http://info.geonet.org.nz/display/quake/M+6.4,+Weber+II,+13+May+1990. Geonet
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76. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
77. Web site: M 6.2 - 24 km W of Taupo, New Zealand . 2024-04-28 . earthquake.usgs.gov.
78. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
79. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
80. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
81. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
82. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 24 October 2021.
83. News: Tragic end to couple's day out . 20 July 2004 . . 24 October 2021.
84. News: Earthquakes continue to rumble Rotorua and BOP . 19 July 2004 . . 24 October 2021.
85. News: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
86. December 2006 . The M8.1 Intraplate, Strike-Slip Macquarie Earthquake of 23 December 2004 . American Geophysical Union. 2006AGUFM.S42C..03M . 27 April 2021. Murphy . K. . Abercrombie . R. E. . Antolik . M. . Yamada . T. . 2006 .
87. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
88. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
89. News: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
90. Web site: GeoNet M 6.7 Gisborne Thu, Dec 20 2007. www.geonet.org.nz. en. 1 June 2019.
91. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 18 March 2022.
92. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
93. News: GeoNet – Quakes. 15 September 2016.
94. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. geonet.org.nz. 12 December 2015.
95. Web site: M7.0 – South Island of New Zealand. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
96. News: Magnitude 4.7, Sun Dec 26 2010 10:30 AM . 21 August 2024 . GeoNet.
97. Web site: List of deceased – Christchurch earthquake . New Zealand Police . 3 May 2011 . 31 May 2011.
98. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. geonet.org.nz. 12 December 2015.
99. Web site: M6.1 – South Island of New Zealand. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
100. News: GeoNet – Quakes. geonet.org.nz. 12 December 2015.
101. Web site: M5.9 – South Island of New Zealand. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
102. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. geonet.org.nz. 12 December 2015.
103. Web site: M5.5 – North Island of New Zealand. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
104. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. geonet.org.nz. 12 December 2015.
105. Web site: M7.6 – Kermadec Islands region. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
106. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. geonet.org.nz. 12 December 2015.
107. Web site: M7.4 – Kermadec Islands region. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
108. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. geonet.org.nz. 12 December 2015.
109. Web site: M5.9 – South Island of New Zealand. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
110. Web site: New Zealand Earthquake Report – Magnitude 6.5, Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 5:09:30 pm (NZST) . GNS Science . 21 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140609023710/http://www.geonet.org.nz/quakes/region/newzealand/2013p543824 . 9 June 2014 .
111. Web site: M6.5 – 46km ESE of Blenheim, New Zealand. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
112. Web site: New Zealand Earthquake Report – Magnitude 6.6, Friday, August 16, 2013 at 2:31:05 pm (NZST) . GNS Science . 17 August 2013.
113. Web site: M6.5 – 29km SE of Blenheim, New Zealand. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
114. Web site: New Zealand Earthquake Report – Magnitude 6.0, Friday, 16 August 2013 at 5:31:16 pm (NZST) . GNS Science . 6 September 2013.
115. Web site: M5.9 – 30km ESE of Blenheim, New Zealand. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
116. Web site: New Zealand Earthquake Report Magnitude 6.2, Monday, January 20, 2014 at 3:52:45 pm (NZDT). 21 January 2014. GeoNet. 21 January 2014.
117. Web site: M6.1 – 35km NNE of Masterton, New Zealand. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
118. News: New Zealand Earthquake Report Magnitude 6.2, Mon, Oct 13 2014, 6:13:41 pm (NZDT). GNS Science . 13 October 2014.
119. Web site: M5.8 – 159km W of Riverton, New Zealand. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
120. Web site: New Zealand Earthquake Report Magnitude 6.5, Tue, Oct 14 2014, 5:12:30 pm (NZDT). GNS Science . 14 October 2014.
121. Web site: M5.7 – South of the Kermadec Islands. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
122. News: GeoNet – Quakes. geonet.org.nz. 12 December 2015.
123. Web site: M6.7 – 183km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
124. News: GeoNet – Quakes. geonet.org.nz. 12 December 2015.
125. Web site: M5.6 – 43km SSE of Hokitika, New Zealand. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
126. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. geonet.org.nz. 12 December 2015.
127. Web site: M6.1 – 67km NW of Kaikoura, New Zealand. earthquake.usgs.gov. 12 December 2015.
128. Web site: A magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurred 25 km north-west of Wanaka, New Zealand on Mon May 4 2015 2:29 PM. The quake was 4 kilometres deep and the shaking was moderate close to the quake.. www.geonet.org.nz. en. 1 June 2019.
129. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes. geonet.org.nz. 3 February 2016.
130. Web site: 5.9 magnitude earthquake hits near Christchurch, New Zealand. The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 February 2016. 14 February 2016.
131. Web site: GeoNet – Quakes – Magnitude 5.7, Sun, Feb 14 2016, 1:13:43 pm (NZDT). geonet.org.nz. 14 February 2016.
132. Web site: Magnitude 7.1, Fri, Sep 2 2016, 4:37:55 am (NZST). geonet.org.nz. 4 September 2016.
133. Web site: M7.1 – 166km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand. earthquake.usgs.gov. 4 September 2016.
134. Web site: Magnitude 7.8, Mon, Nov 14 2016, 12:02:56 am (NZDT) . GeoNet . 16 November 2016.
135. Web site: M7.8 – 53km NNE of Amberley, New Zealand . . 13 November 2016 . 19 November 2016.
136. Web site: Elvey . Suz . Walker . Marc . Kitching . Chris . Two deaths reported as quake recovery continues . Daily Mirror . 13 November 2016.
137. Web site: M7.8 – 53km NNE of Amberley, New Zealand: Origin . earthquake.usgs.gov . United States Geological Survey . 13 November 2016.
138. News: GeoNet – Quakes. geonet.org.nz. 21 October 2018.
139. Web site: A magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred 705 km north-east of Gisborne, New Zealand on Fri Jun 19 2020 12:49 AM. The quake was 10 kilometres deep and the shaking was unnoticeable close to the quake.. 30 September 2020. www.geonet.org.nz. en.
140. Web site: Magnitude 7.1, Fri Mar 5 2021 2:27 AM: Technical . 5 March 2021 . GeoNet . . 5 March 2021.
141. Web site: M 7.4 – Kermadec Islands, New Zealand . earthquake.usgs.gov . United States Geological Survey . 5 March 2021.
142. News: Earthquakes: Tsunami warning after shallow magnitude 8.1 Kermadec Islands quake. en. Newshub. 4 March 2021.
143. Web site: M 6.3 – 183 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand . 21 April 2024 . earthquake.usgs.gov.
144. Web site: M 6.5 – Kermadec Islands, New Zealand . earthquake.usgs.gov . United States Geological Survey . 7 July 2021.
145. Web site: M 6.6 – Kermadec Islands, New Zealand . earthquake.usgs.gov . United States Geological Survey . 14 March 2022.
146. Web site: A magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred 50 km north-west of Paraparaumu, New Zealand on Wed Feb 15 2023 7:38 PM. The quake was 48 kilometres deep and the shaking was strong close to the quake. . 15 February 2023 . www.geonet.org.nz . en.
147. Web site: 24 April 2023 . Magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes Kermadec Islands region – USGS . 21 April 2024 . RNZ . en-nz.
148. Web site: A magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred 45 km north of Geraldine, New Zealand on Wed Sep 20 2023 9:14 AM. The quake was 11 kilometres deep and the shaking was strong close to the quake. . 19 September 2023 . www.geonet.org.nz . en.