Moderate magnitude 4.4 earthquake at 300 km depth28 Feb 16:23 UTC: First to report: GEONET (NZ) after 3 minutes.28 Feb 16:24: Magnitude recalculated from 2.6 to 3.1.28 Feb 16:26: Magnitude recalculated from 3.1 to 4.4. Hypocenter depth recalculated from 139.00 to 300.00 km (from 86 to 186 mi). Epicenter location corrected by 433 km (269 mi) towards NNE.I didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeFeb 28, 2026 16:20:09 UTC - Local time at epicenterSaturday, Feb 28, 2026, at 04:20 am (GMT -12)Statuspreliminary (automatic detection)Magnitude4.4Depth300 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude33.2044°S / 179.853°WNew ZealandSeismic antipode33.2044°N / 0.147°ESpainShaking intensityNot feltPrimary data sourceGEONET (NZ) (Earthquake Commission and Geological Survey, New Zealand)Nearest volcanoKuiwai (11 km / 7 mi)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeOvercast Clouds 18.9°C (66 F), humidity: 66%, wind: 7 m/s (14 kts) from ESEEstimated seismic energy released2.5 x 1011 joules (69.8 megawatt hours, equivalent to 60 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 4.4 | about seismic energy11 minutes agoFeb 28, 2026 16:20 GMT / Feb 28, 2026 04:20 am (GMT -12)Lat / Lng: -33.20435 / -179.85301: New ZealandSource: GEONET (NZ)Detail info | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-22761351',-33.20435,-179.85301,'11 minutes ago: Mag. 4.4, New Zealand',html,'quakes-6-24.png',25,25,12,12,125]); function mkRep(id,notFelt){var nFelt=notFelt||false;var src="https://www.volcanoesandearthquakes.com/app/earthquake-report.php?quakeId="+id;if(nFelt==true){src+="¬Felt=true";}window.open(src,"","status=0,toolbar=0,location=0,directories=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,scrollbars=1,height=400,width=350");} function locationHashChanged(e){-1!=e.oldURL.indexOf("#popupMap")&&closePopup()} window.onhashchange = locationHashChanged; function comment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=(t.dataset.id,document.getElementById("commentForm"));"none"==a.style.display?(t.appendChild(a),a.style.display="block"):a.style.display="none"}function sendComment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=t.parentNode.dataset.id,n=document.getElementById("commentContent"),p=n.value.trim();if(p){var o="id="+a+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId;o+="&comment="+decodeURIComponent(p),mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",o,function(e){e.responseText;alert("Thank you for submitting your comment!"),t.style.display="none",n.value=""})}}function flagReport(e){var t=e.parentNode.dataset.id;if(confirm("Report this as inappropriate?")){var a="id="+t+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&flagAsInappropriate=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",a,function(t){var a=t.responseText;alert(a),e.style.display="none"})}}function likeReport(e){var t="id="+e.parentNode.dataset.id+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&like=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",t,function(t){t.responseText;e.style.opacity=.5})}]]>[smaller] [bigger]Most recent quakes Top 20 past 24 hrs Quakes in New ZealandNearby placesUser-reports for this quakeThere are no user reports for this quake yet.If you felt it, be the first to report it!Get the Android appCompare Quake DataData for the same earthquake as reported by different agenciesThe more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.MagDepthTime GMT2026-02-28EpicenterAgency4.4300 km186 mi16:20:09New ZealandGEONET (NZ) (Earthquake Commission and Geological Survey, New Zealand)Aftershocks for this quakeNo aftershocks have been recorded so far. When aftershocks are detected, we will update this section.What are aftershocks?Larger earthquakes (above magnitude 5 or so) such as this one are usually followed by smaller ones known as aftershocks that occur in the same area during the days, weeks, months or even years after the main shock.[More info]What about this quake?Based on its magnitude, the fault that was active during the quake likely ruptured beneath a surface area of approximately 3 km2 (1 square miles) as a first-order estimate. The length of the rupture zone thus was probably around 3 km (2 mi).[More info]Recorded aftershocks, latest first (0 quake)Feb 28, 2026 04:20 am (GMT -12)11 minutes ago4.4300 km0 km - This quakeSouth Pacific Ocean, New ZealandMain Shock (this quake)MoreMap of aftershocksEarthquake statisticsAverage number of earthquakesBased on data from the past 26 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 76 quakes on average per year in the area near the epicenter of this quake (within 100 km/61 mi):Mag. 6 or higher: 0.13 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 7.7 years)Mag. 5 or higher: 4.2 quakes per yearMag. 4 or higher: 49 quakes per year (or 4.1 quakes per month)Mag. 3 or higher: 74 quakes per year (or 6.2 quakes per month)Mag. 2 or higher: 75 quakes per year (or 6.2 quakes per month)The area where this quake occurred has a very high level of seismic activity. It has had at least 16 quakes above magnitude 6 since 1900, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 5 to 10 years.Number of quakes per yearPrevious quakes in the same area of this earthquakeThe earthquake occurred 6 weeks after a magnitude 4.4 earthquake had hit on Sunday, Jan 18, 2026, at 07:44 am (GMT +13 local time) in 89 km (55 mi) distance to the north:Mag. 4.4 earthquake South Pacific Ocean - New Zealand - Jan 18, 2026 - The strongest-ever (since 1900) recorded quake in this area measured magnitude 7.4. It had occurred 6 years ago earlier, on Friday, Jun 19, 2020, at 12:49 am (GMT +12 local time) in South Pacific Ocean, New Zealand:Mag. 7.4 earthquake New Zealand - Jun 19, 2020 - Below is a list and map of larger or recent quakes that had occurred near the epicenter before this earthquake (within up to 100 km/61 mi distance, up to 300 km/183 mi for very large quakes above mag. 7). Filter and sort the list by magnitude or time.Max results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageDate and TimeMagDepthDistanceLocationDetailsMapJan 18, 07:44 am (GMT +13)4.4400 km89 km (55 mi) to the NSouth Pacific Ocean, New ZealandInfoDec 4, 2025 06:44 pm (GMT -12)4.1100 km88 km (54 mi) to the SESouth Pacific Ocean, New ZealandInfoNov 19, 2025 01:03 am (GMT -12)4.0324 km98 km (61 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, New ZealandInfoNov 17, 2025 06:04 pm (GMT -12)4.3306 km55 km (34 mi) to the S New ZealandInfoNov 11, 2025 04:18 pm (GMT -12)4.533 km36 km (22 mi) to the SE New ZealandInfoNov 6, 2025 11:09 am (GMT -12)4.433 km92 km (57 mi) to the SESouth Pacific Ocean, 496 km northeast of Hicks Bay, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoOct 7, 2025 04:33 am (GMT -12)4.5100 km95 km (59 mi) to the S New ZealandInfoSep 20, 2025 05:17 pm (GMT -12)5.0100 km76 km (47 mi) to the SESouth Pacific Ocean, New ZealandInfoJun 27, 2024 04:37 am (GMT -12)6.333 km97 km (60 mi) to the E New Zealand 2 reportsInfoOct 3, 2021 05:49 pm (GMT +12)5.745 km70 km (43 mi) to the SE New Zealand 1 reportInfoJan 19, 2021 05:40 am (GMT +12)5.733 km97 km (60 mi) to the SE New Zealand 1 reportInfoDec 11, 2020 08:42 am (GMT +12)6.333 km95 km (59 mi) to the E New Zealand 3 reportsInfoJun 19, 2020 12:49 am (GMT +12)7.433 km213 km (133 mi) to the ESouth Pacific Ocean, New Zealand 250 reportsInfoJun 1, 2018 04:52 pm (GMT +12)5.610 km57 km (36 mi) to the E South of Kermadec IslandsInfoMay 17, 2018 05:22 am (GMT +12)5.934 km72 km (45 mi) to the SESouth of the Kermadec IslandsInfoDec 15, 2011 10:10 pm (GMT +12)6.032 km89 km (55 mi) to the NESouth Pacific Ocean, 400 km south of Raoul Island, New ZealandInfoNov 23, 2010 04:18 am (GMT +12)5.910 km99 km (61 mi) to the SE South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoMay 16, 2006 10:39 pm (GMT +12)7.4152 km163 km (101 mi) to the NSouth Pacific Ocean, 312 km southwest of Raoul Island, New ZealandInfoMay 16, 2005 03:54 pm (GMT +12)6.634 km83 km (51 mi) to the NESouth Pacific Ocean, 394 km south of Raoul Island, New ZealandInfoJun 2, 2004 08:50 pm (GMT +12)6.243 km53 km (33 mi) to the NE South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoApr 11, 1998 04:43 am (GMT +12)5.946 km48 km (30 mi) to the SE South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoFeb 5, 1996 10:56 am (GMT +12)5.928 km88 km (55 mi) to the NSouth Pacific Ocean, 386 km south of Raoul Island, New ZealandInfoFeb 14, 1991 01:01 pm (GMT +12)5.933 km54 km (33 mi) to the NE South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoFeb 17, 1987 06:16 pm (GMT +12)6.810 km69 km (43 mi) to the NESouth Pacific Ocean, 413 km south of Raoul Island, New ZealandInfoAug 31, 1984 04:06 am (GMT +12)6.133 km48 km (30 mi) to the E South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoNov 17, 1981 07:42 am (GMT +12)5.933 km77 km (48 mi) to the S South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoJul 23, 1977 05:16 am (GMT +12)6.031 km67 km (42 mi) to the S South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoJan 19, 1976 01:37 am (GMT +12)5.9108 km24 km (15 mi) to the SW South of Kermadec IslandsInfoAug 22, 1973 06:39 pm (GMT +12)6.033 km76 km (47 mi) to the NESouth Pacific Ocean, 410 km south of Raoul Island, New ZealandInfoAug 26, 1972 02:07 am (GMT +12)5.9115 km52 km (33 mi) to the SE South of Kermadec IslandsInfoOct 19, 1967 10:06 am (GMT +12)5.735 km81 km (51 mi) to the SE South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoJul 22, 1967 03:58 pm (GMT +12)6.120 km99 km (62 mi) to the E South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoFeb 16, 1960 05:21 pm (GMT +12)6.00 km85 km (53 mi) to the NSouth Pacific Ocean, 390 km south of Raoul Island, New ZealandInfoMar 9, 1958 10:22 pm (GMT +12)6.243 km66 km (41 mi) to the SE South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoNov 14, 1957 05:22 am (GMT +12)6.530 km79 km (49 mi) to the NE South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoJul 22, 1957 06:17 pm (GMT +12)6.015 km96 km (60 mi) to the E South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoOct 28, 1956 03:28 pm (GMT +12)6.350 km83 km (52 mi) to the E South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoSep 1, 1937 08:38 am (Universal Time)6.545 km73 km (45 mi) to the NE South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoSep 12, 1928 01:18 am (Universal Time)5.915 km65 km (40 mi) to the NE South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoNov 7, 1927 12:03 am (Universal Time)5.935 km98 km (61 mi) to the E South of The Kermadec IslandsInfoMap of earlier quakes in the area of this quakeMax results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageOldest quakes are shown in yellow, most recent in red.[quakes -][quakes +][smaller][bigger]