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M3.1 Depth: 238.9 km

M3.1 Earthquake near NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2025-12-20 14:03:27 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On December 20, 2025 at 14:03 UTC, a magnitude M3.1 earthquake occurred near NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND (New Zealand). At around 239 km, the focal depth places this among intermediate-depth events. Shaking of this size is frequently noticed but usually harmless.

The event was recorded by EMSC. New Zealand: 5 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M4.0.

Details

Magnitude
M3.1
Depth
238.9 km
UTC time
2025-12-20 14:03:27 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
City
Taranaki
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-39.51650, 174.25510
Temperature
10.7°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 238.9 km (Intermediate) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 238.9 km
Intermediate
238.9 km
238.9 km — deeper than the regional average (69.9 km)
Regional average: 69.9 km
Why depth matters

Intermediate-depth quakes are felt across a wider area but usually cause less surface damage.

Depth classes per USGS

Volcanoes nearby

  • Taranaki
    Distance: 29 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Ruapehu
    Distance: 116 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 125 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 163 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 247 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Auckland Volcanic Field
    Distance: 296 km ·Volcanic field ·Elevation: 260 m ·Last eruption: 1446 ·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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