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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in New Zealand

New Zealand has catalogued 7,523 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 11th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M8.2.

New Zealand ranks 11th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - among the most seismically active nations on Earth, averaging about 358 M4+ events a year alongside 298 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. 3 of those major events reached M8 or greater, the catalogue's top magnitude class.

7,523
M4+ events (since 2005)
298
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M8.2
Strongest
~358
M4+ per year

The verdict

New Zealand is among the more seismically active places worldwide, with 7,523 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 298 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 8.2.

1968
busiest year (9 major events)
38 km
average recorded event depth
91%
of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.5 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder Vanuatu sits immediately above at 7,572 events and Solomon Islands sits immediately below at 6,129.

Where New Zealand sits in the catalog

Rank 11th of 187 tracked countries (94th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Vanuatu sits immediately above at 7,572 events and Solomon Islands sits immediately below at 6,129.

New Zealand's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

7,523 Top 6% higher than 94% of 187 countries

0–500: 143 countries (76%). Below this entry. 500–1,000: 11 countries (6%). Below this entry. 1,000–1,500: 5 countries (3%). Below this entry. 1,500–2,000: 5 countries (3%). Below this entry. 2,000–2,500: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 2,500–3,000: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 3,000–3,500: 2 countries (1%). Below this entry. 3,500–4,000: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 4,000–4,500: 3 countries (2%). Below this entry. 4,500–5,000: 3 countries (2%). Below this entry. 5,000–5,500: 12 countries (6%). This entry sits in this band. New Zealand 0 5,000+ every tracked country, bucketed by value

Each bar is a 500-wide band; taller bars hold more countries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) · 2005-present

How New Zealand compares to its nearest peers

New Zealand ranks in the 94th percentile for M4+ frequency among all 187 tracked countries. Plotted here against its 20 nearest-ranked peers by how OFTEN they shake (M4+ count) against how HARD the strongest one ever hit (max recorded magnitude).

New Zealand vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 21 entities by M4+ events since 2005 (X) and Strongest recorded magnitude (Y), with a crosshair dividing the plot into four quadrants. Frequent and severeRare but severeFrequent, capped so farLower on both axes 010,00020,00030,00040,000 M6.5M7M7.5M8M8.5M9M9.5 M4+ events since 2005 Strongest recorded magnitude
New Zealand vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 21 values)
Country M4+ events Strongest magnitude
Indonesia 37,560 M8.6
Japan 27,851 M9.1
United States 17,280 M8.2
Papua New Guinea 15,655 M7.9
Philippines 14,262 M7.8
Chile 13,836 M8.8
Russia 12,525 M8.8
Tonga 10,847 M7.6
Mexico 8,356 M8.2
Vanuatu 7,572 M7.8
New Zealand (this page) 7,523 M8.1
Solomon Islands 6,129 M7.8
China 4,952 M7.9
Greece 4,606 M7.0
Peru 4,598 M8.0
Fiji 4,498 M7.9
Argentina 4,379 M7.0
India 4,086 M7.5
Iran 3,554 M7.7
Afghanistan 3,478 M7.5
Timor Leste 3,416 M7.3

Major (M6+) earthquakes in New Zealand by year

Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year

Value

What this shows New Zealand's most active year for major earthquakes was 1968 (9 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) As of 2005–present
0%100%1%
Share of New Zealand's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

78 of 7,523 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 298 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for New Zealand.

How the 298 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 83.9%

M8+

3

1.0%

M7.0-7.9

45

15.1%

M6.0-6.9

250

83.9%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 298 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 38 km.

New Zealand90.6%9.1%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of New Zealand's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

270

90.6% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

27

9.1% of events

Deep (>300 km)

1

0.3% of events

Strongest earthquakes in New Zealand

The 10 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).

Mag Location Depth
8.2 1917 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand Earthquake 15.0 km
8.1 2021 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand Earthquake 28.9 km
8.0 1976 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand Earthquake 33.0 km
7.8 53 km NNE of Amberley, New Zealand 15.1 km
7.8 97 km WSW of Te Anau, New Zealand 12.0 km
7.7 46 km E of Gisborne, New Zealand 15.0 km
7.6 82 km ENE of Gisborne, New Zealand 25.0 km
7.5 173 km WSW of Riverton, New Zealand 20.0 km
7.5 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 35.0 km
7.4 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 43.0 km

Significant earthquake record (298 events)

Every catalogued magnitude-6.0-and-above earthquake in New Zealand since 1900, most recent first.

Mag Location Depth
6.0 Auckland Islands, New Zealand region 10.0 km
6.1 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 167.0 km
6.2 213 km WSW of Riverton, New Zealand 22.0 km
6.2 285 km SW of Bluff, New Zealand 10.6 km
6.7 170 km WSW of Riverton, New Zealand 21.0 km
6.1 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 13.0 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 19.0 km
6.3 Auckland Islands, New Zealand region 14.8 km
7.1 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 46.8 km
6.9 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 211.0 km
6.1 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 354.0 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 131.0 km
6.6 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 24.0 km
6.4 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 16.0 km
6.5 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 25.0 km
6.1 194 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand 24.0 km
6.4 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 20.0 km
6.3 183 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand 13.0 km
8.1 2021 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand Earthquake 28.9 km
7.4 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 43.0 km
7.3 182 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand 10.0 km
6.3 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 224.0 km
6.1 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 34.0 km
6.2 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 14.0 km
6.4 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 30.0 km
6.1 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 12.0 km
7.3 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 46.0 km
6.1 62 km E of Waitara, New Zealand 225.5 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 35.0 km
6.1 Auckland Islands, New Zealand region 8.0 km
6.6 Auckland Islands, New Zealand region 10.0 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 19.0 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 34.0 km
6.5 74 km NE of Amberley, New Zealand 9.0 km
6.2 90 km SSW of Blenheim, New Zealand 2.1 km
6.1 78 km SSW of Blenheim, New Zealand 14.0 km
6.5 92 km SSW of Blenheim, New Zealand 10.0 km
7.8 53 km NNE of Amberley, New Zealand 15.1 km
6.1 179 km NE of Opotiki, New Zealand 13.7 km
7.0 175 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand 19.0 km
6.1 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 43.8 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 228.0 km
6.1 73 km S of Wakefield, New Zealand 48.0 km
6.7 183 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand 22.0 km
6.7 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 26.6 km
6.5 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 10.0 km
6.9 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 20.0 km
6.1 35 km NNE of Masterton, New Zealand 28.0 km
6.2 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 151.0 km
6.5 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 41.5 km
6.5 29 km SE of Blenheim, New Zealand 8.2 km
6.5 38 km ESE of Blenheim, New Zealand 17.0 km
6.3 27 km SE of Tokoroa, New Zealand 163.0 km
6.3 63 km S of Opunake, New Zealand 229.8 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 15.2 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 14.0 km
6.1 6 km SE of Christchurch, New Zealand 5.9 km
7.0 19 km NE of Methven, New Zealand 12.0 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 28.0 km
6.2 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 257.0 km
6.1 107 km W of Te Anau, New Zealand 10.0 km
7.8 97 km WSW of Te Anau, New Zealand 12.0 km
6.1 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 131.7 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 13.0 km
6.4 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 33.0 km
6.1 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 10.0 km
7.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 36.0 km
6.1 Auckland Islands, New Zealand region 10.0 km
6.2 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 25.0 km
6.6 46 km SSE of Gisborne, New Zealand 20.0 km
6.1 72 km NNW of Te Anau, New Zealand 19.0 km
6.8 70 km N of Te Anau, New Zealand 18.0 km
6.6 Auckland Islands, New Zealand region 18.0 km
7.4 Auckland Islands, New Zealand region 10.0 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 40.7 km
6.5 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 34.0 km
6.4 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 21.0 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 10.0 km
7.1 255 km W of Riverton, New Zealand 10.0 km
6.2 Auckland Islands, New Zealand region 10.0 km
6.4 96 km WNW of Te Anau, New Zealand 10.0 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 33.0 km
6.4 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 10.0 km
7.2 56 km NW of Te Anau, New Zealand 28.0 km
6.4 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 45.6 km
6.7 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 62.4 km
6.7 178 km ENE of Opotiki, New Zealand 18.0 km
7.1 295 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand 33.0 km
7.2 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 178.1 km
6.1 67 km NW of Te Anau, New Zealand 24.5 km
6.2 24 km W of Taupo, New Zealand 158.7 km
6.5 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 10.0 km
6.3 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 25.0 km
6.9 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 129.5 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 57.4 km
6.7 Auckland Islands, New Zealand region 10.0 km
6.2 47 km NW of Oxford, New Zealand 10.0 km
6.1 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 54.4 km
7.2 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 35.3 km
6.0 125 km ENE of Opotiki, New Zealand 28.2 km

Showing the first 100 of 298 significant events.

Other countries in this catalog sample

A New Zealand-keyed shuffle of the full 186-country roster, not the six nearest by count.

Azerbaijan

169 M4+ events · strongest M5.6

M5.6

Tajikistan

1,583 M4+ events · strongest M7.2

M7.2

Rwanda

42 M4+ events · strongest M5.9

M5.9

Saint Helena

184 M4+ events · strongest M6.0

M6.0

Mexico

8,356 M4+ events · strongest M8.2

M8.2

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

4 M4+ events · strongest M4.5

M4.5

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

A second New Zealand-keyed shuffle of countries with a recorded max magnitude.

Fiji

4,498 M4+ events

M7.9

Cayman Islands

107 M4+ events

M7.6

Peru

4,598 M4+ events

M8.0

India

4,086 M4+ events

M7.5

United States

17,280 M4+ events

M8.2

Canada

1,026 M4+ events

M7.8

Understand the data

Vanuatu

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Solomon Islands

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in New Zealand? ▼
The USGS catalog records 7,523 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in New Zealand since 2005, an average of about 358 per year. Separately, 298 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in New Zealand? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in New Zealand measured magnitude 8.2. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.5 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is New Zealand? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, New Zealand ranks 11th of 187 countries worldwide - among the most seismically active nations on Earth. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1968, with 9.
How deep are earthquakes in New Zealand? ▼
Across the 298 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 38 km. 91% were shallow (under 70 km), where surface shaking is strongest at a given magnitude.
Where does this data come from? ▼
Every figure is derived from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). M4+ counts cover 2005 onward (the period of consistent global completeness); the significant-event series covers M6+ back to 1900. Nothing is modelled or estimated.

About New Zealand's figures

7,523 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M8.2 · average M4.5 · 298 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 17, 2026. Computed from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). See the methodology and USGS ComCat.

Disclaimer: PlainQuake is informational only, not an emergency service or engineering advice. See our full disclaimer.

What New Zealand's numbers mean

New Zealand ranks 11th of 187 countries tracked - among the most seismically active nations on Earth.

  • About 358 M4+ earthquakes strike New Zealand per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 1968 was the busiest year on record with 9 significant events. See the full country ranking
  • 91% of New Zealand's catalogued major earthquakes are shallow (under 70km) - shallow events generally produce stronger surface shaking than deep ones of the same magnitude. How depth affects shaking
  • The strongest catalogued event reached M8.2. Compare against neighboring or similarly-ranked countries before drawing conclusions from magnitude alone. Compare strongest earthquakes

Figures reflect the USGS ComCat catalog (M4+ since 2005, M6+ significant events since 1900) - not a real-time hazard assessment. For official guidance, see the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.

According to the US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, PlainQuake's figures are rendered directly from 315,341 recorded M4+ earthquakes and 14,428 significant M6+ events (USGS ComCat, 2005-present) -- no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-07-19.