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M3.2 Depth: 11.9 km

M3.2 Earthquake near Kaikōura, Canterbury (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-02-18 12:25:26 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On February 18, 2026 at 12:25 UTC, a magnitude M3.2 earthquake occurred near Kaikōura, Canterbury (New Zealand). The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 12 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. Earthquakes of this magnitude are often felt but rarely cause damage.

The data is provided by EMSC and cross-checked across seismological networks. New Zealand: 5 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M4.4.

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 11.9 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 11.9 km
Shallow
11.9 km
11.9 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

  • Taranaki
    Distance: 345 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Ruapehu
    Distance: 379 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 393 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 441 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand

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

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

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