An earthquake of magnitude 3.2 occurred early morning on Monday, July 21st, 2025, at 2:17 am local time near Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, as reported by New Zealand's Earthquake Commission and Geological Survey (GeoNet).According to preliminary data, the quake was located at a very shallow depth of 5. km. Shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones as they are closer to the surface. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.A second report was later issued by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), which listed it as a magnitude 3.4 earthquake.Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter. Weak shaking might have been felt in Putaruru (pop. 4,700) located 7 km from the epicenter.Other towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Tokoroa (pop. 14,500) located 21 km from the epicenter, Matamata (pop. 6,300) 27 km away, and Rotorua (pop. 65,900) 36 km away. In Cambridge (pop. 15,200, 41 km away), Te Awamutu (pop. 14,000, 46 km away), Tauranga (pop. 155,200, 49 km away), and Hamilton (pop. 178,500, 58 km away), the quake was probably not felt.Earthquake data: Date & time: Jul 21, 2025 02:17 am (GMT +12) local time (20 Jul 2025 14:17 GMT)Magnitude: 3.2Depth: 5.00 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude: 38.05°S / 175.86°E (South Waikato District, Waikato, New Zealand)Primary data source: GEONET (NZ)