Country risk monitor
New Zealand: live earthquakes, disasters and events
Updated · Data from USGS, NASA EONET and GDACS
In the last 30 days, GlobalRisk recorded 9 events in or near New Zealand: 9 earthquakes. 1 event occurred in the past 24 hours and 1 in the past 7 days.
The strongest earthquake was M5.3 43 km SSE of Otorohanga, New Zealand on 15 Oct 2026, which falls in the moderate class. Can damage poorly built structures near the epicenter, while well-designed buildings usually suffer slight damage at most. Roughly 1,300 earthquakes of this size occur worldwide each year.
Recent events in New Zealand
| When | Type | Event | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|
5 hours ago | Earthquake | M4.1 earthquake — 63 km W of Flaxmere, New Zealand | Moderate |
8 days ago | Earthquake | M4.3 earthquake — 16 km SSW of Renwick, New Zealand | Moderate |
16 days ago | Earthquake | M4.5 earthquake — Kermadec Islands, New Zealand | Moderate |
17 days ago | Earthquake | M4.3 earthquake — 83 km N of Opotiki, New Zealand | Moderate |
18 days ago | Earthquake | M5.0 earthquake — Auckland Islands, New Zealand region | High |
19 days ago | Earthquake | M5.3 earthquake — 43 km SSE of Otorohanga, New Zealand | High |
22 days ago | Earthquake | M4.2 earthquake — 25 km SSE of Pahiatua, New Zealand | Moderate |
23 days ago | Earthquake | M4.3 earthquake — 24 km WNW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand | Moderate |
27 days ago | Earthquake | M4.7 earthquake — Kermadec Islands, New Zealand | Moderate |
What kinds of events
Frequently asked questions
Has there been an earthquake in New Zealand today?
Yes. GlobalRisk shows 1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or above located in or near New Zealand in the past 24 hours. The strongest was M4.1. Magnitudes are preliminary and can be revised by the USGS.
What is the strongest recent earthquake in New Zealand?
In the last 30 days, the strongest earthquake recorded in or near New Zealand was M5.3 (43 km SSE of Otorohanga, New Zealand) on 15 Oct 2026.
Are there active disaster alerts for New Zealand?
GlobalRisk has no Orange or Red GDACS alerts for New Zealand in the last 30 days. Check local authorities for official warnings.
Where does this information come from?
Earthquakes come from the USGS, natural events from NASA EONET and disaster alerts from GDACS. GlobalRisk normalizes them, assigns each event to a country using its coordinates, and links to the original report. See the methodology page for details.
Safety and background
These guides explain how the hazards in this region are measured and what to do when they occur:
- Earthquake Safety: What to Do Before, During and After
- Earthquake Magnitude Explained: What M4, M6 and M7 Really Mean
- GDACS Alert Levels Explained: Green, Orange and Red
Latest headlines
Headlines are linked from their original publishers via Google News. GlobalRisk does not host or edit this content.
- Japan-Taiwan-New Zealand Seismic Hazard Assessment Meeting 27 October 2026 — GNS Science
- Cut off but not alone: remembering the storm in Lawrence — New Zealand Red Cross
- Fresh flood warnings for South Island as weather losses mount — Insurance Business
- Park Soo-hong and Kim Da-ye face helicopter delay in New Zealand amid storm — Chosunbiz
- Three NRL clubs handed punishments for player contract breaches — Zero Tackle
- Significant Magnitude 5.7 Earthquake Hits Near Nelson, New Zealand — Volcano Discovery
GlobalRisk is for situational awareness only and is not an official warning service. Follow your national and local authorities for emergency guidance. How this data is collected · Open the live map