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M3.0 Depth: 28.4 km

M3.0 Earthquake near Kaikōura District, Canterbury (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-03-24 18:54:29 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On March 24, 2026 at 18:54 UTC, a magnitude M3.0 earthquake occurred near Kaikōura District, Canterbury (New Zealand). With a focal depth of about 28 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Shaking of this size is frequently noticed but usually harmless.

The data is provided by EMSC and cross-checked across seismological networks. New Zealand: 4 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M3.6.

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 28.4 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 28.4 km
Shallow
28.4 km
28.4 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: 323 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Ruapehu
    Distance: 355 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 370 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 417 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·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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