M3.4 Depth: 17.7 km

M3.4 Earthquake near Central Hawke's Bay District, Hawke's Bay (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-07-15 12:16:12 UTC Local time:

About this earthquake

A magnitude M3.4 earthquake was recorded near Central Hawke's Bay District, Hawke's Bay (New Zealand) on July 15, 2026 at 12:16 UTC. With a focal depth of about 18 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Earthquakes of this magnitude are often felt but rarely cause damage.

The event was recorded by EMSC. New Zealand: 6 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M4.3.

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 17.7 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 17.7 km
Shallow
17.7 km
17.7 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: 150 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 158 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 187 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand
  • Taranaki
    Distance: 246 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 247 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Whakaari/White Island
    Distance: 322 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 294 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·New Zealand

Historic earthquake map · New Zealand

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

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

Share