M3.1 Depth: 11.0 km

M3.1 Earthquake near Stratford District, Manawatū-Whanganui (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-07-16 09:23:07 UTC Local time:

About this earthquake

On July 16, 2026 at 09:23 UTC, a magnitude M3.1 earthquake occurred near Stratford District, Manawatū-Whanganui (New Zealand). With a focal depth of about 11 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. 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: 6 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M4.3.

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 11 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 11 km
Shallow
11 km
11 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

  • Taranaki
    Distance: 54 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Ruapehu
    Distance: 76 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 81 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 114 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 196 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Tuhua/Mayor Island
    Distance: 254 km ·Shield ·Elevation: 355 m ·Last eruption: -5055 ·New Zealand

Historic earthquake map · New Zealand

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

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

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