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New Zealand · Taranaki

M3.4 Earthquake near South Taranaki District, Taranaki (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-09-15 04:02:19 UTC Local time: —
Magnitude
M3.4
Depth
135.1 km
Source
EMSC

Taranaki · South Taranaki District

Country overview

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About this earthquake

On September 15, 2026 at 04:02 UTC, a magnitude M3.4 earthquake occurred near South Taranaki District, Taranaki (New Zealand). The earthquake originated at an intermediate depth of about 135 km. Shaking of this size is frequently noticed but usually harmless.

The data is provided by EMSC and cross-checked across seismological networks. New Zealand: over the past 24 hours, QuakeMap24 logged 2 earthquakes, the strongest at M3.3.

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 135.1 km (Intermediate) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 135.1 km
Intermediate
135.1 km
135.1 km — deeper than the regional average (69.4 km)
Regional average: 69.4 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

  • Taranaki
    Distance: 34 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Ruapehu
    Distance: 100 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 108 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 145 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 229 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·New Zealand
  • Auckland Volcanic Field
    Distance: 284 km ·Volcanic field ·Elevation: 260 m ·Last eruption: 1446 ·New Zealand

Taranaki

Context for this earthquake

20 Sep 2025 – 20 Sep 2026 · M ≥ 3.0 · 32 Catalogue entries

Of 31 other entries for this area and period, 9 have a higher stored magnitude. Different magnitude types and reports not yet merged limit the comparison.

Open seismic profile

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

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

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