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M3.0 Depth: 198.1 km

M3.0 Earthquake near Western Bay of Plenty District, Bay of Plenty (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-08-31 09:04:37 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On August 31, 2026 at 09:04 UTC, a magnitude M3.0 earthquake occurred near Western Bay of Plenty District, Bay of Plenty (New Zealand). At around 198 km, the focal depth places this among intermediate-depth events. Shaking of this size is frequently noticed but usually harmless.

The event was recorded by EMSC. New Zealand: 10 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M3.6.

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 198.1 km (Intermediate) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 198.1 km
Intermediate
198.1 km
198.1 km — deeper than the regional average (69.3 km)
Regional average: 69.3 km
Why depth matters

Intermediate-depth quakes are felt across a wider area but usually cause less surface damage.

Depth classes per USGS

Volcanoes nearby

  • Okataina
    Distance: 53 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Tuhua/Mayor Island
    Distance: 75 km ·Shield ·Elevation: 355 m ·Last eruption: -5055 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 96 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand
  • Whakaari/White Island
    Distance: 115 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 294 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 141 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Auckland Volcanic Field
    Distance: 154 km ·Volcanic field ·Elevation: 260 m ·Last eruption: 1446 ·New Zealand

Historic earthquake map · New Zealand

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Country statistics · New Zealand

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

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