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M4.2 Depth: 20.4 km

M4.2 Earthquake near NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2025-12-03 23:17:41 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M4.2 earthquake was recorded near NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND (New Zealand) on December 3, 2025 at 23:17 UTC. With a focal depth of about 20 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Tremors of this size are distinctly felt and can occasionally cause light 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 M4.0.

Details

Magnitude
M4.2
Depth
20.4 km
UTC time
2025-12-03 23:17:41 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
City
Manawatū-Whanganui
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-40.62550, 176.56240
Temperature
16.4°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 20.4 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 20.4 km
Shallow
20.4 km
20.4 km — shallower than the regional average (69.9 km)
Regional average: 69.9 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: 172 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 182 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 213 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand
  • Taranaki
    Distance: 259 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 275 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Whakaari/White Island
    Distance: 349 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 294 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·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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