Historical tsunamis · Oct 18, 1868, 12:35 PM UTC
1868 New Zealand tsunami
New Zealand
The tsunami of Oct 18, 1868, 12:35 PM UTC originated near New Zealand (New Zealand).
Key facts
- Date
- Oct 18, 1868, 12:35 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.6
- Depth
- 12 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 3.00 m
- Observation records
- 5
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake at a depth of 12 km.
The highest documented water height was 3.00 m (Farewell Spit (Near Pakawau), New Zealand).
5 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
5Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 5 | 3.00 m Farewell Spit (Near Pakawau) | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
5 / 5Individual documented observations for this event. Heights come from different measurement types and sources; not every location has a measured height.
| Location / station | Observed height | Distance from source | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farewell Spit (Near Pakawau) | 3.00 m | 52 km | New Zealand |
| Port Nelson | 0.30 m | 120 km | New Zealand |
| Waitara | 0.30 m | 169 km | New Zealand |
| Westport | 0.30 m | 210 km | New Zealand |
| Thames | — | 405 km | New Zealand |
More tsunamis
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Historical Tsunami Database. Confirmed events only. Deaths and damage are database estimates; older records are incomplete. Water heights come from different types of observation.