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M3.1 Depth: 29.2 km

M3.1 Earthquake near Ōpōtiki District, Bay of Plenty (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-03-03 14:12:10 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M3.1 earthquake was recorded near Ōpōtiki District, Bay of Plenty (New Zealand) on March 3, 2026 at 14:12 UTC. The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 29 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. Earthquakes of this magnitude are often felt but rarely cause damage.

The data is provided by EMSC and cross-checked across seismological networks. New Zealand: over the past 24 hours, QuakeMap24 logged 5 earthquakes, the strongest at M4.4.

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Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 29.2 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 29.2 km
Shallow
29.2 km
29.2 km — shallower than the regional average (70 km)
Regional average: 70 km
Why depth matters

Shallow quakes release energy near the surface — shaking is felt more strongly and damage potential is higher.

Depth classes per USGS

Volcanoes nearby

  • Whakaari/White Island
    Distance: 65 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 294 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 75 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Tuhua/Mayor Island
    Distance: 133 km ·Shield ·Elevation: 355 m ·Last eruption: -5055 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 149 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand
  • Clark
    Distance: 187 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -860 m ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 192 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand

Historic earthquake map · New Zealand

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Explore recent and long-term earthquake activity in this country. Use filters to narrow down by magnitude, depth, and date range.

Country statistics · New Zealand

Country overview
View earthquake KPIs, strongest and latest events, and averages for this country.

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