Back to map
M4.5 Depth: 28.0 km

M4.5 Earthquake near NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2025-12-25 18:16:50 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On December 25, 2025 at 18:16 UTC, a magnitude M4.5 earthquake occurred near NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND (New Zealand). With a focal depth of about 28 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 event was recorded by EMSC. New Zealand: over the past 24 hours, QuakeMap24 logged 5 earthquakes, the strongest at M4.0.

Details

Magnitude
M4.5
Depth
28.0 km
UTC time
2025-12-25 18:16:50 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
City
Manawatū-Whanganui
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-40.65830, 176.16220
Temperature
19.0°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 28 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 28 km
Shallow
28 km
28 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: 161 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 173 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 210 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand
  • Taranaki
    Distance: 234 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 280 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Whakaari/White Island
    Distance: 360 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 294 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·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