Back to map
M3.0 Depth: 15.9 km

M3.0 Earthquake near Hawke's Bay (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-03-12 11:14:28 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M3.0 earthquake was recorded near Hawke's Bay (New Zealand) on March 12, 2026 at 11:14 UTC. The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 16 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. 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: 5 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M4.4.

Details

Magnitude
M3.0
Depth
15.9 km
UTC time
2026-03-12 11:14:28 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
State
Hawke's Bay
City
Hawke's Bay
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-39.79470, 177.11450
Temperature
18.6°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 15.9 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 15.9 km
Shallow
15.9 km
15.9 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

  • Ruapehu
    Distance: 144 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 146 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 154 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 190 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Whakaari/White Island
    Distance: 253 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 294 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·New Zealand
  • Taranaki
    Distance: 267 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·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.

Share