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M3.1 Depth: 2.0 km

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

UTC time: 2026-03-18 21:51:49 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M3.1 earthquake was recorded near Bay of Plenty (New Zealand) on March 18, 2026 at 21:51 UTC. With a focal depth of about 2 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 event was recorded by EMSC. New Zealand: 2 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M3.2.

Details

Magnitude
M3.1
Depth
2.0 km
UTC time
2026-03-18 21:51:49 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
State
Bay of Plenty
City
Bay of Plenty
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-37.37930, 177.10260
Temperature
20.5°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 2 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 2 km
Shallow
2 km
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: 17 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 294 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·New Zealand
  • Tuhua/Mayor Island
    Distance: 76 km ·Shield ·Elevation: 355 m ·Last eruption: -5055 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 101 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Clark
    Distance: 123 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -860 m ·New Zealand
  • Tangaroa
    Distance: 144 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -600 m ·New Zealand
  • Rumble IV
    Distance: 163 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -500 m ·New Zealand

Historic earthquake map · New Zealand

Open history map
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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