Historical tsunamis · Mar 4, 2021, 1:27 PM UTC
2021 Gisborne tsunami
New Zealand
The tsunami of Mar 4, 2021, 1:27 PM UTC originated near Gisborne (New Zealand).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 4, 2021, 1:27 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.3
- Depth
- 20 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.28 m
- Observation records
- 9
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake at a depth of 20 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.28 m (Lottin Point, New Zealand).
9 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
9Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Tsunami arrival times
Documented arrival times from the NOAA/NCEI database, showing the earliest recorded location per country. Coverage is incomplete: a country without an entry was not necessarily spared.
- 0:00 hEarthquake (origin) · Mar 4, 2021, 1:27 PM UTC
- 0:07 hNew Zealand · D5401000 Bpr, Ese of Auckland, Nz · 0.06 m
8 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 9 | 0.28 m Lottin Point | — | 0:07 h |
Highest documented water heights
9 / 9Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lottin Point | 0.28 m | 114 km | New Zealand |
| Korotiti Bay, Great Barrier Island | 0.15 m | 384 km | New Zealand |
| Raoul Island, Boat Cove | 0.07 m | 951 km | New Zealand |
| Raoul Island, Fishing Rock | 0.07 m | 954 km | New Zealand |
| D5401000 Bpr, Ese of Auckland, Nz | 0.06 m | 97 km | New Zealand |
| Tauranga · Bay of Plenty | 0.03 m | 288 km | New Zealand |
| D5501003 Bpr, NE of Wellington, Nz | 0.02 m | 338 km | New Zealand |
| D5401001 Bpr, Ene of Auckland, Nz | 0.01 m | 305 km | New Zealand |
| D5501002 Bpr, Ese of Wellington, Nz | 0.00 m | 576 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.