Moderate magnitude 4.4 earthquake at 5 km depth20 Sep 07:54 UTC: First to report: GEONET (NZ) after 1 minute.20 Sep 07:55: Magnitude recalculated from 4.3 to 4.2. Hypocenter depth recalculated from 18.50 to 5.00 km (from 11.5 to 3.1 mi). Epicenter location corrected by 9.6 km (5.9 mi) towards NNW.20 Sep 08:02: Magnitude recalculated from 4.2 to 4.4. Epicenter location corrected by 3.8 km (2.4 mi) towards SE.I didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeSep 20, 2025 07:52:38 UTC - Local time at epicenterSaturday, Sep 20, 2025, at 07:52 pm (GMT +12)StatusconfirmedMagnitude4.4Depth5 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude41.4061°S / 172.3237°EBuller District, West Coast, New ZealandSeismic antipode41.4061°N / 7.676°WPortugalQuality44 seismic stations (EMSC)Shaking intensityV Moderate shaking near epicenterFelt1 reportPrimary data sourceGEONET (NZ) (Earthquake Commission and Geological Survey, New Zealand)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeOvercast Clouds 1.8°C (35 F), humidity: 100%, wind: 2 m/s (3 kts) from ENEEstimated 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 ago reported feltSep 20, 2025 07:52 GMT / Sep 20, 2025 07:52 pm (GMT +12)Lat / Lng: -41.40606 / 172.32368: New ZealandSource: GEONET (NZ)Other sources: EMSC: 4.2 / 5 kmDetail info | Read user reports | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-22185327',-41.40606,172.32368,'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 placesThe closest larger town where the quake might have been felt is Nelson, a town with 55,000 inhabitants in New Zealand, in 82 km (51 mi) distance east of the epicenter. People likely experienced weak shaking there. Many smaller towns and villages are located closer to the epicenter and might have experienced stronger shaking. In the capital of New Zealand, Wellington, 205 km (127 mi) away from the epicenter, the earthquake was probably felt as very weak shaking.The following table shows some of the places that might have been affected (or not) by the shaking.DistancePlaceMax. shaking intensity(*)RegionCountry21 km (13 mi)W of epicenterLittle Wanganui(pop: 207)IV: LightBuller District, West CoastNew Zealand24 km (15 mi)NW of epicenterKaramea(pop: 357)IV: LightBuller District, West CoastNew Zealand41 km (26 mi)E of epicenterTapawera(pop: 330)III: WeakTasman, TasmanNew Zealand43 km (26 mi)SW of epicenterHector(pop: 201)III: WeakBuller District, West CoastNew Zealand44 km (27 mi)S of epicenterMurchison(pop: 606)III: WeakTasman, TasmanNew Zealand61 km (38 mi)E of epicenterWakefield(pop: 2,680)III: WeakTasman, TasmanNew Zealand65 km (41 mi)NE of epicenterMotueka(pop: 7,490)III: WeakTasman, TasmanNew Zealand67 km (42 mi)E of epicenterMapua(pop: 1,820)III: WeakTasman, TasmanNew Zealand71 km (44 mi)SW of epicenterWestport(pop: 4,290)III: WeakBuller District, West CoastNew Zealand72 km (45 mi)E of epicenterRichmond(pop: 18,000)III: WeakTasman, TasmanNew Zealand73 km (45 mi)NE of epicenterMarahau(pop: 231)III: WeakNelsonNew Zealand74 km (46 mi)NE of epicenterTakaka(pop: 1,400)III: WeakTasman, TasmanNew Zealand77 km (48 mi)E of epicenterStoke(pop: 19,600)III: WeakNelson, NelsonNew Zealand82 km (51 mi)E of epicenterNelson(pop: 54,700)III: WeakNelsonNew Zealand88 km (54 mi)SW of epicenterReefton(pop: 927)III: WeakBuller District, West CoastNew Zealand102 km (64 mi)E of epicenterWairau Valley(pop: 2,190)II: Very weakMarlborough District, MarlboroughNew Zealand126 km (78 mi)E of epicenterRenwick(pop: 2,620)II: Very weakMarlborough District, MarlboroughNew Zealand130 km (81 mi)S of epicenterHanmer Springs(pop: 1,120)II: Very weakHurunui District, CanterburyNew Zealand136 km (85 mi)E of epicenterBlenheim(pop: 28,800)II: Very weakMarlborough District, MarlboroughNew Zealand141 km (88 mi)E of epicenterPicton(pop: 4,880)II: Very weakMarlborough District, MarlboroughNew Zealand150 km (93 mi)SW of epicenterGreymouth(pop: 9,420)II: Very weakGrey District, West CoastNew Zealand184 km (114 mi)SW of epicenterHokitika(pop: 2,860)II: Very weakWestland District, West CoastNew Zealand197 km (123 mi)S of epicenterAmberley(pop: 2,340)II: Very weakHurunui District, CanterburyNew Zealand202 km (126 mi)E of epicenterKarori(pop: 15,400)II: Very weakWellington, WellingtonNew Zealand205 km (127 mi)E of epicenterWellington(pop: 381,900)II: Very weakWellingtonNew Zealand211 km (131 mi)S of epicenterOxford(pop: 2,440)II: Very weakWaimakariri District, CanterburyNew Zealand212 km (132 mi)S of epicenterRangiora(pop: 19,300)II: Very weakWaimakariri District, CanterburyNew Zealand213 km (133 mi)E of epicenterPorirua(pop: 62,400)II: Very weakWellingtonNew Zealand218 km (135 mi)E of epicenterLower Hutt(pop: 114,000)II: Very weakWellingtonNew Zealand220 km (137 mi)E of epicenterWainuiomata(pop: 19,800)II: Very weakLower Hutt, WellingtonNew Zealand221 km (137 mi)S of epicenterKaiapoi(pop: 13,600)II: Very weakWaimakariri District, CanterburyNew Zealand230 km (143 mi)E of epicenterUpper Hutt(pop: 48,300)II: Very weakWellingtonNew Zealand232 km (144 mi)S of epicenterDarfield(pop: 3,120)II: Very weakSelwyn District, CanterburyNew Zealand232 km (144 mi)E of epicenterParaparaumu(pop: 30,800)II: Very weakKapiti Coast District, WellingtonNew Zealand237 km (147 mi)E of epicenterWaikanae(pop: 13,200)II: Very weakKapiti Coast District, WellingtonNew Zealand238 km (148 mi)S of epicenterChristchurch(pop: 363,900)II: Very weakCanterburyNew Zealand248 km (154 mi)E of epicenterOtaki(pop: 6,090)II: Very weakKapiti Coast District, WellingtonNew Zealand261 km (162 mi)NE of epicenterHawera(pop: 10,400)II: Very weakSouth Taranaki District, TaranakiNew Zealand282 km (175 mi)NE of epicenterWhanganui(pop: 48,900)II: Very weakManawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand284 km (176 mi)NE of epicenterStratford(pop: 6,320)II: Very weakTaranakiNew 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. 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.Translate34.5 km E of epicenter [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our app)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 shaking134–34 km (21–21 mi)34 km (21 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.I 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 GMT2025-09-20EpicenterAgency4.45 km3.1 mi07:52:38New ZealandGEONET (NZ) (Earthquake Commission and Geological Survey, New Zealand)4.25 km3.1 mi07:52:38.152±0.54sSOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND3.8 km (2.4 mi) epicenter difference with GEONET (NZ)EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)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)Sep 20, 2025 07:52 pm (GMT +12)11 minutes ago4.45 km0 km - This quakeNew ZealandMain Shock (this quake)MoreMap of aftershocksEarthquake statisticsAverage number of earthquakesBased on data from the past 55 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 634 quakes on average per year in the area near the epicenter of this quake (within 100 km/61 mi):Mag. 7 or higher: 0.02 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 62.5 years)Mag. 6 or higher: 0.05 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 20.8 years)Mag. 5 or higher: 0.44 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 2.3 years)Mag. 4 or higher: 6.8 quakes per yearMag. 3 or higher: 52 quakes per year (or 4.3 quakes per month)Mag. 2 or higher: 431 quakes per year (or 35.9 quakes per month)Mag. 1 or higher: 630 quakes per year (or 52 quakes per month)The area where this quake occurred has a high level of seismic activity. It has had at least 2 quakes above magnitude 7 since 1900, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 60 to 65 years.Number of quakes per yearPrevious quakes in the same area of this earthquakeThe earthquake occurred 24 weeks after a magnitude 4.6 earthquake had hit on Monday, Apr 7, 2025, at 10:49 am local time (Pacific/Auckland GMT +13) in 80 km (50 mi) distance to the east:Mag. 4.6 earthquake New Zealand - Apr 7, 2025 - 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 South Island - 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 TimeMagDepthDistanceLocationDetailsMapSep 8, 03:50 pm (Auckland)4.35 km32 km (20 mi) to the NEWest Coast, 59 km west of Nelson, Nelson, New Zealand 1 reportInfoJul 27, 07:11 pm (Auckland)4.084 km95 km (59 mi) to the E New Zealand 1 reportInfoApr 7, 10:49 am (Auckland)4.651 km80 km (50 mi) to the EMarlborough, 32 km south of Nelson, Nelson, New Zealand 1 reportInfoMar 29, 07:12 am (Auckland)4.147 km87 km (54 mi) to the SEMarlborough, 101 km southwest of Nelson, Nelson, New Zealand 3 reportsInfoMar 4, 03:53 pm (Auckland)4.7198 km76 km (47 mi) to the NETasman Sea, Tasman, 58 km northwest of Nelson, Nelson, New ZealandInfoSep 12, 2024 09:45 pm (Auckland)4.2164 km33 km (21 mi) to the NE New Zealand 1 reportInfoApr 30, 2024 09:02 am (Auckland)4.296 km59 km (37 mi) to the E New Zealand 1 reportInfoOct 30, 2022 12:35 pm (Auckland)5.353 km72 km (45 mi) to the STasman, 99 km southwest of Nelson, Nelson, New Zealand 22 reportsInfoSep 3, 2020 10:13 pm (Auckland)5.762 km56 km (35 mi) to the SETasman, 78 km southwest of Nelson, Nelson, New Zealand 131 reportsInfoAug 12, 2019 08:44 am (Auckland)5.2102 km44 km (27 mi) to the NE 22 km southwest of Motueka, Tasman, New Zealand 6 reportsInfoSep 7, 2018 03:53 am (Auckland)5.082 km45 km (28 mi) to the SETasman, 68 km southwest of Nelson, Nelson, New ZealandInfoAug 19, 2018 12:23 pm (Auckland)5.0372 km66 km (41 mi) to the SWTasman Sea, 59 km west of Murchison, Tasman, New ZealandInfoDec 7, 2017 09:30 pm (Auckland)5.075 km90 km (56 mi) to the EMarlborough, 19 km southeast of Nelson, Nelson, New Zealand 11 reportsInfoNov 13, 2016 11:52 am (Universal Time)5.810 km94 km (58 mi) to the SEMarlborough, 53 km south of Nelson, Nelson, New Zealand 2 reportsInfoNov 13, 2016 11:02 pm (Auckland)7.710 km137 km (85 mi) to the S 8 km southeast of Hanmer Springs, Canterbury, New Zealand 71 reportsInfoAug 16, 2013 02:31 am (Universal Time)5.2281 km89 km (55 mi) to the SEMarlborough, 92 km south of Nelson, Nelson, New ZealandInfoSep 4, 2010 04:35 am (Auckland)7.012 km239 km (148 mi) to the S 65 km west of Christchurch, Canterbury, New ZealandInfoOct 4, 2007 07:15 am (Auckland)5.470 km96 km (59 mi) to the SE South Island of New ZealandInfoAug 13, 2006 04:29 pm (Auckland)5.2100 km52 km (32 mi) to the SETasman, 77 km southwest of Nelson, Nelson, New ZealandInfoMay 5, 2002 12:59 am (Auckland)5.233 km6 km (3.7 mi) to the WWest Coast, 87 km west of Nelson, Nelson, New ZealandInfoDec 20, 1999 02:19 am (Auckland)5.199 km51 km (32 mi) to the ETasman, 37 km southwest of Nelson, Nelson, New ZealandInfoFeb 15, 1991 10:48 pm (Auckland)5.431 km95 km (59 mi) to the SW 56 km northeast of Greymouth, West Coast, New ZealandInfoJan 29, 1991 07:49 am (Auckland)5.324 km77 km (48 mi) to the SW 26 km southeast of Westport, West Coast, New ZealandInfoJan 29, 1991 06:00 am (Auckland)5.919 km85 km (53 mi) to the SW 30 km south of Westport, West Coast, New ZealandInfoJan 29, 1991 12:58 am (Auckland)5.727 km83 km (51 mi) to the SW 27 km south of Westport, West Coast, New ZealandInfoFeb 10, 1990 04:57 pm (Auckland)5.110 km85 km (53 mi) to the STasman, 214 km southwest of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoMar 25, 1979 09:06 am (Auckland)5.359 km90 km (56 mi) to the SW South Island of New ZealandInfoJan 18, 1974 11:19 pm (Auckland)5.333 km76 km (47 mi) to the NETasman, 67 km northwest of Nelson, Nelson, New ZealandInfoAug 14, 1971 02:42 am (Auckland)5.610 km82 km (51 mi) to the S 64 km SE of Westport, New ZealandInfoJun 15, 1968 07:03 am (Auckland)5.525 km59 km (37 mi) to the SW 27 km east of Westport, West Coast, New ZealandInfoMay 25, 1968 08:57 am (Auckland)5.715 km65 km (40 mi) to the SW South Island of New ZealandInfoMay 24, 1968 05:24 am (Auckland)7.020 km38 km (24 mi) to the SWWest Coast, 30 km northwest of Murchison, Tasman, New ZealandInfoMay 10, 1962 12:27 pm (Auckland)5.525 km65 km (40 mi) to the SWWest Coast, 49 km west of Murchison, Tasman, New ZealandInfoJul 15, 1929 08:58 am (Universal Time)5.915 km89 km (55 mi) to the SEMarlborough, 94 km south of Nelson, Nelson, New ZealandInfoJun 22, 1929 06:39 pm (Universal Time)6.315 km53 km (33 mi) to the SETasman, 74 km southwest of Nelson, Nelson, New ZealandInfoJun 22, 1929 03:30 pm (Universal Time)6.415 km52 km (32 mi) to the SETasman, 83 km southwest of Nelson, Nelson, New ZealandInfoJun 19, 1929 09:17 am (Universal Time)6.215 km32 km (20 mi) to the SWest Coast, 100 km southwest of Nelson, Nelson, New ZealandInfoJun 16, 1929 10:47 pm (Universal Time)7.320 km99 km (61 mi) to the SE South Island of New ZealandInfoMar 9, 1929 10:50 am (Universal Time)7.020 km176 km (109 mi) to the S South Island of New ZealandInfoFeb 22, 1913 03:36 pm (Auckland)6.80 km81 km (51 mi) to the SW 10.1 km southwest of Westport, West Coast, 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 +][smaller][bigger]