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M4.0 Depth: 20.8 km

M4.0 Earthquake near Porirua, Wellington (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-05-02 15:15:17 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M4.0 earthquake was recorded near Porirua, Wellington (New Zealand) on May 2, 2026 at 15:15 UTC. With a focal depth of about 21 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Tremors of this size are distinctly felt and can occasionally cause light damage.

The event was recorded by EMSC. New Zealand: 4 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M3.6.

Details

Magnitude
M4.0
Depth
20.8 km
UTC time
2026-05-02 15:15:17 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
State
Wellington
City
Porirua
County
Porirua City
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-41.05060, 174.74150
Temperature
13.4°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 20.8 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 20.8 km
Shallow
20.8 km
20.8 km — shallower than the regional average (70.1 km)
Regional average: 70.1 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

  • Taranaki
    Distance: 203 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Ruapehu
    Distance: 209 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 224 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 271 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 356 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Tuhua/Mayor Island
    Distance: 439 km ·Shield ·Elevation: 355 m ·Last eruption: -5055 ·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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