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M3.2 Depth: 5.0 km

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

UTC time: 2026-05-31 04:41:54 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On May 31, 2026 at 04:41 UTC, a magnitude M3.2 earthquake occurred near Kaikōura District, Canterbury (New Zealand). With a focal depth of about 5 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 event was recorded by EMSC. New Zealand: 3 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M3.2.

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 5 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 5 km
Shallow
5 km
5 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: 327 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Ruapehu
    Distance: 368 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand
  • Tongariro
    Distance: 382 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 1'978 m ·Last eruption: 2012 ·New Zealand
  • Taupo
    Distance: 430 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: 760 m ·Last eruption: 260 ·New Zealand

Historic earthquake map · New Zealand

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Country statistics · New Zealand

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

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