Moderate magnitude 4.2 earthquake at 51 km depth22 Mar 01:33 UTC: First to report: GEONET (NZ) after 1 minute.22 Mar 01:34: Magnitude recalculated from 4.1 to 4.2. Hypocenter depth recalculated from 48.60 to 50.50 km (from 30 to 31 mi). Epicenter location corrected by 6.2 km (3.8 mi) towards SE.I didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeMar 22, 2026 01:31:37 UTC - Local time at epicenterSunday, Mar 22, 2026, at 01:31 am (Universal Time GMT +0)Statuspreliminary (automatic detection)Magnitude4.2Depth51 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude41.3555°S / 175.7012°ESouth Wairarapa District, Wellington, New ZealandSeismic antipode41.3555°N / 4.299°WSpainShaking intensityIII Weak shaking near epicenterFelt1 reportPrimary data sourceGEONET (NZ) (Earthquake Commission and Geological Survey, New Zealand)Nearest volcanoRuapehu (231 km / 144 mi)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeClear Sky 18.9°C (66 F), humidity: 48%, wind: 2 m/s (4 kts) from ESEEstimated seismic energy released1.3 x 1011 joules (35 megawatt hours, equivalent to 30.1 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 4.2 | about seismic energy3 minutes ago reported feltMar 22, 2026 01:31 GMT / Mar 22, 2026 01:31 am (Universal Time)Lat / Lng: -41.35546 / 175.70123: New ZealandSource: GEONET (NZ)Detail info | Read user reports | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-22831092',-41.35546,175.70123,'3 minutes ago: Mag. 4.2, 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 placesThe closest larger town where the quake might have been felt is Wellington, the capital of New Zealand with 380,000 inhabitants, in 78 km (48 mi) distance west of the epicenter. People likely experienced very weak shaking there. Many smaller towns and villages are located closer to the epicenter and might have experienced stronger shaking.The following table shows some of the places that might have been affected (or not) by the shaking.DistancePlaceMax. shaking intensity(*)RegionCountry17 km (10 mi)SW of epicenterWaipawa(pop: 1,900)III: WeakSouth Wairarapa District, WellingtonNew Zealand28 km (17 mi)NW of epicenterMartinborough(pop: 2,050)III: WeakSouth Wairarapa District, WellingtonNew Zealand31 km (19 mi)N of epicenterGladstone(pop: 940)III: WeakCarterton, WellingtonNew Zealand40 km (25 mi)N of epicenterCarterton(pop: 10,300)III: WeakWellingtonNew Zealand42 km (26 mi)NW of epicenterFeatherston(pop: 2,760)III: WeakSouth Wairarapa District, WellingtonNew Zealand44 km (27 mi)N of epicenterMasterton(pop: 28,700)III: WeakWellingtonNew Zealand58 km (36 mi)N of epicenterKopuaranga(pop: 1,130)III: WeakMasterton, WellingtonNew Zealand60 km (37 mi)NW of epicenterUpper Hutt(pop: 47,500)II: Very weakWellingtonNew Zealand64 km (39 mi)W of epicenterWainuiomata(pop: 20,300)II: Very weakLower Hutt, WellingtonNew Zealand67 km (41 mi)NE of epicenterCastlepoint(pop: 1,690)II: Very weakMasterton, WellingtonNew Zealand67 km (42 mi)W of epicenterLower Hutt(pop: 113,400)II: Very weakWellingtonNew Zealand75 km (46 mi)NW of epicenterWaikanae(pop: 13,300)II: Very weakKapiti Coast District, WellingtonNew Zealand75 km (47 mi)NW of epicenterParaparaumu(pop: 29,900)II: Very weakKapiti Coast District, WellingtonNew Zealand75 km (47 mi)W of epicenterPorirua(pop: 61,800)II: Very weakWellingtonNew Zealand76 km (47 mi)NW of epicenterPukerua Bay(pop: 2,070)II: Very weakPorirua, WellingtonNew Zealand77 km (48 mi)W of epicenterJohnsonville(pop: 12,100)II: Very weakWellington, WellingtonNew Zealand77 km (48 mi)W of epicenterNewtown(pop: 10,100)II: Very weakWellington, WellingtonNew Zealand78 km (48 mi)W of epicenterWellington(pop: 381,900)II: Very weakWellingtonNew Zealand81 km (50 mi)W of epicenterKarori(pop: 15,400)II: Very weakWellington, WellingtonNew Zealand81 km (50 mi)NW of epicenterOtaki(pop: 6,090)II: Very weakKapiti Coast District, WellingtonNew Zealand88 km (55 mi)NW of epicenterLevin(pop: 19,800)II: Very weakHorowhenua District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand93 km (58 mi)N of epicenterShannon(pop: 1,610)II: Very weakHorowhenua District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand99 km (62 mi)N of epicenterTokomaru(pop: 563)II: Very weakHorowhenua District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand99 km (62 mi)NE of epicenterPongaroa(pop: 81)II: Very weakManawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand101 km (63 mi)N of epicenterPahiatua(pop: 2,860)II: Very weakManawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand104 km (65 mi)N of epicenterFoxton(pop: 4,780)II: Very weakHorowhenua District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand111 km (69 mi)N of epicenterPalmerston North(pop: 91,300)II: Very weakManawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand114 km (71 mi)N of epicenterWoodville(pop: 1,680)II: Very weakTararua District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand118 km (74 mi)N of epicenterAshhurst(pop: 3,400)II: Very weakPalmerston North, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand120 km (75 mi)N of epicenterRongotea(pop: 700)II: Very weakManawatu District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand123 km (77 mi)N of epicenterTangimoana(pop: 303)II: Very weakManawatu District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand132 km (82 mi)N of epicenterDannevirke(pop: 5,680)II: Very weakManawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand134 km (83 mi)N of epicenterBulls(pop: 2,150)II: Very weakRangitikei District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand139 km (86 mi)W of epicenterSeddon(pop: 552)II: Very weakMarlborough District, MarlboroughNew Zealand142 km (88 mi)W of epicenterPicton(pop: 4,930)II: Very weakMarlborough District, MarlboroughNew Zealand146 km (91 mi)N of epicenterMarton(pop: 5,740)II: Very weakRangitikei District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand147 km (91 mi)W of epicenterBlenheim(pop: 30,300)II: Very weakMarlborough District, MarlboroughNew Zealand157 km (97 mi)W of epicenterRenwick(pop: 2,550)II: Very weakMarlborough District, MarlboroughNew Zealand157 km (98 mi)N of epicenterTakapau(pop: 516)II: Very weakCentral Hawke's Bay District, Hawke's BayNew Zealand167 km (104 mi)N of epicenterWhanganui(pop: 48,900)II: Very weakManawatu-WanganuiNew ZealandNotes:(*) Shaking intensity according to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) and estimated using seismic models.User-reports for this quake (1)So far, we have received 1 report for this quake from New Zealand.It came from near Upper Hutt, a town with 48,000 inhabitants in Wellington in 60 km (37 mi) distance northwest of the epicenter, New Zealand.This section is being updated as new data comes in.User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale.Translate58.3 km WNW of epicenter [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our app)List of cities/places with most reportsPlaceDistance from epicenterAverage reported Shaking IntensityNr. of reportsUpper Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand(Pop.: 47,500)60 km (37 mi)NW of epicenterIII: Weak shaking1Note: Only reports with latitude/longitude coordinate positions given (1 in total) could be used for statistics.What is Intensity and the Mercalli Intensity Scale?The amount of shaking that occurs on the surface due to an earthquake is called the intensity. It is commonly measured on the so-called Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) ranging from 1 (not felt) to 10 (extreme shaking), and given in Roman numerals as I,II,...IX, X, and often displayed with color codes ranging from light blue to dark red.Earthquake intensity depends mainly on the magnitude and depth of the quake as well as the distance from the epicenter: The further away, the less shaking intensity occurs.Read more about the MMI scale!Number of reports by intensityShaking intensityNumber of reportsMin-Max distance from epicenter (*)Average distance (*)III: Weak shaking158–58 km (36–36 mi)58 km (36 mi)Notes(*) Reports are filtered to exclude those that are likely highly inaccurate or esaggerated.Only reports with latitude/longitude coordinate positions given (1 in total) could be used for geographic statistics.Get the Android appI didn't feel itI felt this quakeIf you were near the epicenter and felt it, please share your experience and submit a short "I felt it" report! Other users would love to hear about it!If you did NOT feel the quake although you were in the area, please report it as well! Your contribution is valuable to earthquake science and seismic hazard analysis.Compare 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 GMT2026-03-22EpicenterAgency4.251 km31 mi01:31:37New 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 2 km2 (1 square miles) as a first-order estimate. The length of the rupture zone thus was probably around 2 km (1 mi).[More info]Recorded aftershocks, latest first (0 quake)Mar 22, 2026 01:31 am (Universal Time)3 minutes ago4.251 km0 km - This quake78 km E of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandMain Shock (this quake)MoreMap of aftershocksPrevious quakes in the same area of this earthquakeThe earthquake occurred 10 weeks after a magnitude 4.6 earthquake had hit on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2026, at 11:21 pm local time (Pacific/Auckland GMT +13) in 92 km (57 mi) distance to the north:Mag. 4.6 earthquake 47 km southeast of Palmerston North - Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand - Jan 13, 2026 - The strongest-ever (since 1900) recorded quake in this area measured magnitude 7.7. It had occurred 9 years ago earlier, on Sunday, Nov 13, 2016, at 11:02 pm local time (Pacific/Auckland GMT +12) in Canterbury, New Zealand:Mag. 7.7 earthquake 8 km southeast of Hanmer Springs - Canterbury, New Zealand - Nov 13, 2016 - 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 13, 11:21 pm (Auckland)4.613 km92 km (57 mi) to the N 47 km southeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand 13 reportsInfoDec 26, 2025 07:16 am (Auckland)4.717 km87 km (54 mi) to the N 51 km southeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand 9 reportsInfoAug 4, 2025 01:22 am (Auckland)4.221 km55 km (34 mi) to the NE 29 km east of Masterton, Wellington, New Zealand 4 reportsInfoAug 4, 2025 12:14 am (Auckland)4.120 km54 km (33 mi) to the NE 28 km east of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoMay 5, 2025 05:16 pm (Auckland)4.136 km100 km (62 mi) to the NWTasman Sea, 42 km southwest of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand 6 reportsInfoApr 7, 2025 01:16 am (Auckland)4.220 km60 km (38 mi) to the NW 34 km northeast of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 6 reportsInfoMar 28, 2025 12:59 pm (Auckland)4.435 km89 km (56 mi) to the NWTasman Sea, 68 km north of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 14 reportsInfoJan 28, 2025 11:26 pm (Auckland)5.335 km81 km (50 mi) to the N 36 km southeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand 69 reportsInfoNov 13, 2016 11:02 pm (Auckland)7.710 km269 km (167 mi) to the SW 8 km southeast of Hanmer Springs, Canterbury, New Zealand 71 reportsInfoMay 11, 2016 07:55 pm (Universal Time)5.010 km34 km (21 mi) to the NW 66 km east of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 1 reportInfoSep 23, 2014 02:41 am (Auckland)5.329 km92 km (57 mi) to the N 35 km southeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoJan 20, 2014 02:52 pm (Auckland)6.128 km78 km (48 mi) to the N 38 km southeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand 25 reportsInfoMar 31, 2012 06:47 am (Auckland)4.917 km53 km (33 mi) to the NW 21 km west of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoNov 28, 2010 01:22 pm (Auckland)4.926 km55 km (34 mi) to the N 14 km northwest of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoFeb 1, 2005 05:31 am (Auckland)5.122 km10.2 km (6.4 mi) to the SESouth Pacific Ocean, 83 km east of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoJan 21, 2005 06:56 am (Auckland)5.339 km44 km (27 mi) to the W 37 km east of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoJan 18, 2005 09:26 pm (Auckland)5.024 km12 km (7.7 mi) to the SESouth Pacific Ocean, 86 km east of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoJan 18, 2005 09:36 pm (Auckland)5.220 km13 km (8.3 mi) to the SESouth Pacific Ocean, 86 km east of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoDec 7, 2002 06:59 pm (Auckland)4.956 km94 km (58 mi) to the NWTasman Sea, 59 km north of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoOct 6, 2002 08:05 pm (Auckland)4.928 km43 km (27 mi) to the NW 63 km northeast of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoMar 30, 2000 02:30 am (Auckland)5.233 km41 km (26 mi) to the NW 64 km northeast of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoAug 1, 1992 02:11 am (Auckland)5.138 km90 km (56 mi) to the NE 60 km southeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoOct 6, 1990 02:41 pm (Auckland)5.539 km40 km (25 mi) to the SW 58 km southeast of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoOct 5, 1990 11:48 am (Auckland)5.637 km64 km (40 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 26 km southeast of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoFeb 6, 1990 09:42 pm (Auckland)5.053 km77 km (48 mi) to the NE 43 km northeast of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoFeb 6, 1982 06:51 am (Auckland)5.464 km69 km (43 mi) to the N 98 km northeast of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoJan 30, 1976 03:00 pm (Auckland)5.034 km37 km (23 mi) to the NW 15 km southwest of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoJan 5, 1975 08:37 am (Auckland)5.237 km90 km (56 mi) to the NWTasman Sea, 37 km north of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoJul 31, 1972 11:39 am (Auckland)5.134 km63 km (39 mi) to the N 29 km northeast of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoFeb 14, 1970 09:20 am (Universal Time)4.912 km80 km (50 mi) to the N 51 km southeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoDec 28, 1961 11:48 am (Auckland)6.420 km15 km (9.5 mi) to the NE 37 km southeast of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoDec 2, 1942 12:14 am (Universal Time)6.225 km89 km (56 mi) to the N 37 km southeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoAug 1, 1942 12:34 pm (Universal Time)6.835 km72 km (45 mi) to the NWWellington, 16 km southeast of Levin, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoJun 24, 1942 11:16 am (Universal Time)7.015 km26 km (16 mi) to the NE North Island of New ZealandInfoMar 5, 1934 11:46 am (Universal Time)7.215 km87 km (54 mi) to the NTasman Sea, 40 km southeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoFeb 13, 1931 01:27 am (Universal Time)7.345 km218 km (136 mi) to the N North Island of New ZealandInfoFeb 2, 1931 10:46 pm (Universal Time)7.435 km187 km (116 mi) to the N North Island of New ZealandInfoFeb 12, 1930 06:21 am (Universal Time)6.215 km94 km (59 mi) to the ESouth Pacific Ocean, 94 km east of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoJun 16, 1929 10:47 pm (Universal Time)7.320 km219 km (136 mi) to the W South Island of New ZealandInfoSep 12, 1919 06:06 am (Universal Time)6.315 km82 km (51 mi) to the ESouth Pacific Ocean, 159 km east of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoAug 5, 1917 03:50 pm (Universal Time)6.715 km63 km (39 mi) to the ESouth Pacific Ocean, 82 km southeast of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoNov 22, 1914 08:14 am (Universal Time)7.0100 km263 km (164 mi) to the N 36 km south of Taupo, Waikato, New ZealandInfoAug 9, 1904 10:51 am (GMT +12)7.50 km145 km (90 mi) to the NESouth Pacific Ocean, 97 km south of Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New ZealandInfoMap 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 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