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M3.2 Depth: 54.3 km

M3.2 Earthquake near Bay of Plenty (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-01-17 18:45:22 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M3.2 earthquake was recorded near Bay of Plenty (New Zealand) on January 17, 2026 at 18:45 UTC. With a focal depth of about 54 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Shaking of this size is frequently noticed but usually harmless.

The data is provided by EMSC and cross-checked across seismological networks. New Zealand: 3 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M3.2.

Details

Magnitude
M3.2
Depth
54.3 km
UTC time
2026-01-17 18:45:22 UTC
Local time
—
Country
New Zealand
State
Bay of Plenty
City
Bay of Plenty
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-37.41710, 178.06420
Temperature
16.9°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 54.3 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 54.3 km
Shallow
54.3 km
54.3 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

  • Whakaari/White Island
    Distance: 79 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 294 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·New Zealand
  • Clark
    Distance: 110 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -860 m ·New Zealand
  • Tangaroa
    Distance: 122 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -600 m ·New Zealand
  • Rumble V
    Distance: 142 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -400 m ·New Zealand
  • Rumble IV
    Distance: 143 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: -500 m ·New Zealand
  • Okataina
    Distance: 160 km ·Lava dome(s) ·Elevation: 1'111 m ·Last eruption: 1981 ·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.

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