Light magnitude 3.9 earthquake at 122 km depth4 Oct 05:20 UTC: First to report: GEONET (NZ) after 2 minutes.4 Oct 05:21: Epicenter location corrected by 5.6 km (3.5 mi) towards SE.4 Oct 05:22: Hypocenter depth recalculated from 144.80 to 122.90 km (from 90 to 76 mi).I didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeOct 4, 2026 05:17:56 UTC - Local time at epicenterSunday, Oct 4, 2026, at 06:17 pm (GMT +13)StatusconfirmedMagnitude3.9Depth122 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude40.1768°S / 173.9636°ENew ZealandSeismic antipode40.1768°N / 6.036°WSpainQuality177 seismic stations (EMSC)Shaking intensityII Very weak shakingFelt0 reportsPrimary data sourceGEONET (NZ) (Earthquake Commission and Geological Survey, New Zealand)Nearest volcanoTaranaki (98 km / 61 mi)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeClear Sky 11.5°C (53 F), humidity: 63%, wind: 6 m/s (11 kts) from SSEEstimated seismic energy released4.5 x 1010 joules (12.4 megawatt hours, equivalent to 10.7 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 3.9 | about seismic energy18 minutes agoOct 4, 2026 05:17 GMT / Oct 4, 2026 06:17 pm (GMT +13)Lat / Lng: -40.17678 / 173.96359: New ZealandSource: GEONET (NZ)Other sources: EMSC: 3.9 / 145 kmDetail info | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-23409487',-40.17678,173.96359,'18 minutes ago: Mag. 3.9, New Zealand',html,'quakes-5-24.png',18,18,9,9,124]); 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 Patea, a town with 1,300 inhabitants in New Zealand, in 64 km (40 mi) distance northeast of the epicenter. People likely experienced very weak shaking there. In the capital of New Zealand, Wellington, 141 km (88 mi) away from the epicenter, the earthquake could not be felt.The following table shows some of the places that might have been affected (or not) by the shaking.DistancePlaceMax. shaking intensity(*)RegionCountry64 km (40 mi)NE of epicenterPatea(pop: 1,290)II: Very weakSouth Taranaki District, TaranakiNew Zealand71 km (44 mi)NE of epicenterHawera(pop: 10,400)II: Very weakSouth Taranaki District, TaranakiNew Zealand71 km (44 mi)N of epicenterManaia(pop: 1,070)II: Very weakSouth Taranaki District, TaranakiNew Zealand81 km (50 mi)N of epicenterOpunake(pop: 1,500)II: Very weakSouth Taranaki District, TaranakiNew Zealand88 km (55 mi)N of epicenterEltham(pop: 2,150)II: Very weakSouth Taranaki District, TaranakiNew Zealand95 km (59 mi)N of epicenterRahotu(pop: 2,070)II: Very weakSouth Taranaki District, TaranakiNew Zealand96 km (60 mi)E of epicenterWhanganui(pop: 48,900)II: Very weakManawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand97 km (60 mi)N of epicenterStratford(pop: 6,430)II: Very weakTaranakiNew Zealand115 km (71 mi)N of epicenterInglewood(pop: 3,960)I: Not feltNew Plymouth District, TaranakiNew Zealand117 km (73 mi)E of epicenterFoxton(pop: 4,780)I: Not feltHorowhenua District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand118 km (73 mi)N of epicenterOakura(pop: 1,720)I: Not feltNew Plymouth District, TaranakiNew Zealand119 km (74 mi)SE of epicenterOtaki(pop: 6,090)I: Not feltKapiti Coast District, WellingtonNew Zealand121 km (75 mi)E of epicenterBulls(pop: 2,150)I: Not feltRangitikei District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand121 km (75 mi)E of epicenterMarton(pop: 5,740)I: Not feltRangitikei District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand121 km (75 mi)SE of epicenterParaparaumu(pop: 29,900)I: Not feltKapiti Coast District, WellingtonNew Zealand122 km (76 mi)SE of epicenterWaikanae(pop: 13,300)I: Not feltKapiti Coast District, WellingtonNew Zealand122 km (76 mi)SE of epicenterLevin(pop: 19,800)I: Not feltHorowhenua District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand124 km (77 mi)SW of epicenterTakaka(pop: 1,430)I: Not feltTasman District, TasmanNew Zealand124 km (77 mi)SE of epicenterPukerua Bay(pop: 2,070)I: Not feltPorirua, WellingtonNew Zealand124 km (77 mi)N of epicenterNew Plymouth(pop: 90,300)I: Not feltTaranakiNew Zealand124 km (77 mi)S of epicenterPicton(pop: 4,930)I: Not feltMarlborough District, MarlboroughNew Zealand130 km (81 mi)SE of epicenterPorirua(pop: 61,800)I: Not feltWellingtonNew Zealand130 km (81 mi)NE of epicenterAotea(pop: 4,170)I: Not feltPorirua, WellingtonNew Zealand130 km (81 mi)E of epicenterShannon(pop: 1,610)I: Not feltHorowhenua District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand133 km (82 mi)N of epicenterWaitara(pop: 7,730)I: Not feltNew Plymouth District, TaranakiNew Zealand133 km (83 mi)SW of epicenterMotueka(pop: 7,490)I: Not feltTasman District, TasmanNew Zealand135 km (84 mi)SW of epicenterNelson(pop: 54,400)I: Not feltNelsonNew Zealand136 km (85 mi)SE of epicenterJohnsonville(pop: 12,100)I: Not feltWellington City, WellingtonNew Zealand139 km (87 mi)SE of epicenterKarori(pop: 15,400)I: Not feltWellington City, WellingtonNew Zealand140 km (87 mi)SW of epicenterMapua(pop: 1,820)I: Not feltTasman District, TasmanNew Zealand141 km (88 mi)SE of epicenterUpper Hutt(pop: 47,500)I: Not feltWellingtonNew Zealand141 km (88 mi)SE of epicenterLower Hutt(pop: 113,400)I: Not feltWellingtonNew Zealand141 km (88 mi)SW of epicenterStoke(pop: 19,900)I: Not feltNelson, NelsonNew Zealand141 km (88 mi)SE of epicenterWellington(pop: 381,900)I: Not feltWellingtonNew Zealand144 km (89 mi)SE of epicenterNewtown(pop: 10,100)I: Not feltWellington City, WellingtonNew Zealand144 km (90 mi)SW of epicenterRichmond(pop: 19,700)I: Not feltTasman District, TasmanNew Zealand147 km (91 mi)SE of epicenterWainuiomata(pop: 20,300)I: Not feltLower Hutt, WellingtonNew Zealand154 km (96 mi)SE of epicenterFeatherston(pop: 2,760)I: Not feltSouth Wairarapa District, WellingtonNew Zealand156 km (97 mi)SW of epicenterWakefield(pop: 2,680)I: Not feltTasman District, TasmanNew Zealand162 km (101 mi)SE of epicenterCarterton(pop: 10,300)I: Not feltWellingtonNew ZealandNotes:(*) Shaking intensity according to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) and estimated using seismic models.User-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 GMT2026-10-4EpicenterAgency3.9122 km76 mi05:17:56New ZealandGEONET (NZ) (Earthquake Commission and Geological Survey, New Zealand)3.9145 km90 mi05:17:55.174±0.58sCOOK STRAIT, NEW ZEALAND1.3 km (0.8 mi) epicenter difference with GEONET (NZ)EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)Earthquake statisticsAverage number of earthquakesBased on data from the past 56 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 1,700 quakes on average per year in the area near the epicenter of this quake (within 100 km/61 mi):Mag. 6 or higher: 0.02 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 62.5 years)Mag. 5 or higher: 1.02 quakes per yearMag. 4 or higher: 12.8 quakes per yearMag. 3 or higher: 123 quakes per year (or 10.2 quakes per month)Mag. 2 or higher: 1,200 quakes per year (or 3.4 quakes per day)Mag. 1 or higher: 1,700 quakes per year (or 4.7 quakes per day)The area where this quake occurred has a high level of seismic activity. It has had at least 2 quakes above magnitude 6 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 3 weeks after a magnitude 4.9 earthquake had hit on Tuesday, Sep 15, 2026, at 10:44 am (GMT +12 local time) in 22 km (14 mi) distance to the southeast:Mag. 4.9 earthquake 69 km SSW of Patea - New Zealand - Sep 15, 2026 -The strongest-ever (since 1900) recorded quake in this area measured magnitude 7.7. It had occurred 10 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 25, 06:22 pm (GMT +12)3.512 km71 km (44 mi) to the NW New ZealandInfoSep 24, 09:39 am (GMT +12)3.4105 km63 km (39 mi) to the ETasman Sea, 52 km southwest of Whanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoSep 19, 08:37 pm (Auckland)3.1203 km54 km (34 mi) to the NTasman Sea, 70 km south of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New ZealandInfoSep 19, 06:58 am (GMT +12)3.395 km29 km (18 mi) to the STasman Sea, 99 km southwest of Whanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoSep 19, 06:41 am (Auckland)3.231 km97 km (61 mi) to the SETasman Sea, 57 km north of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoSep 15, 10:44 am (GMT +12)4.998 km22 km (14 mi) to the SETasman Sea, 89 km southwest of Whanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand 4 reportsInfoSep 6, 09:20 pm (GMT +12)4.0166 km42 km (26 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 114 km north of Haulashore Island, New ZealandInfoSep 5, 07:34 am (Auckland)4.651 km87 km (54 mi) to the SETasman Sea, 64 km north of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 26 reportsInfoJul 9, 01:15 pm (GMT +12)3.933 km37 km (23 mi) to the E New ZealandInfoJun 28, 11:04 pm (GMT +12)5.081 km49 km (30 mi) to the SETasman Sea, 103 km north of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 28 reportsInfoJan 9, 08:29 am (Auckland)5.4107 km61 km (38 mi) to the NETasman Sea, 46 km west of Whanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand 97 reportsInfoAug 11, 2023 11:53 am (GMT +12)5.6170 km32 km (20 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 119 km north of Haulashore Island, New Zealand 56 reportsInfoFeb 15, 2023 06:38 pm (GMT +12)6.350 km68 km (42 mi) to the SETasman Sea, 81 km north of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 415 reportsInfoOct 14, 2022 02:03 am (GMT +12)5.7146 km51 km (32 mi) to the SWTasman Sea, 99 km north of Nelson, Nelson, New Zealand 237 reportsInfoSep 22, 2022 09:07 pm (Auckland)5.851 km73 km (45 mi) to the STasman Sea, 72 km northwest of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 396 reportsInfoNov 7, 2021 03:16 pm (GMT +12)5.5190 km49 km (30 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 157 km northwest of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 52 reportsInfoOct 12, 2021 01:55 pm (GMT +12)5.3150 km41 km (25 mi) to the WTasman Sea, New Zealand 113 reportsInfoMay 26, 2020 12:34 pm (Auckland)5.233 km91 km (57 mi) to the ETasman Sea, 27 km west of Foxton, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand 25 reportsInfoMay 25, 2020 07:53 am (Auckland)5.837 km91 km (57 mi) to the ETasman Sea, 26 km west of Foxton, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand 65 reportsInfoJan 27, 2018 02:30 pm (GMT +12)5.1124 km18 km (11 mi) to the S New Zealand 7 reportsInfoNov 13, 2016 11:02 pm (Auckland)7.710 km281 km (174 mi) to the S 8 km southeast of Hanmer Springs, Canterbury, New Zealand 71 reportsInfoJan 20, 2013 12:45 pm (Auckland)5.2138 km52 km (32 mi) to the NETasman Sea, 69 km west of Moutoa Island, Wellington, New ZealandInfoJul 3, 2012 10:36 pm (GMT +12)6.3230 km25 km (15 mi) to the NW 63 km S of Opunake, New ZealandInfoJul 15, 2009 09:38 pm (GMT +12)5.4163 km31 km (19 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 125 km north of Haulashore Island, New ZealandInfoJul 14, 2007 12:47 am (Auckland)5.1232 km52 km (32 mi) to the NTasman Sea, 72 km south of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New ZealandInfoMar 14, 2005 03:08 am (GMT +12)5.4141 km33 km (20 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 124 km north of Haulashore Island, New ZealandInfoOct 31, 2000 04:32 am (GMT +12)5.158 km91 km (57 mi) to the SETasman Sea, 77 km north of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoSep 20, 1995 10:52 am (Auckland)5.8217 km56 km (35 mi) to the NTasman Sea, 71 km south of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New ZealandInfoMar 23, 1995 07:43 am (Auckland)5.887 km96 km (60 mi) to the STasman Sea, 69 km northwest of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoSep 9, 1991 01:50 am (Auckland)5.688 km93 km (58 mi) to the ETasman Sea, 49 km west of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoJun 9, 1991 11:01 pm (GMT +12)5.4109 km37 km (23 mi) to the ETasman Sea, 59 km west of Whanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoAug 8, 1989 07:59 pm (GMT +12)5.6122 km32 km (20 mi) to the ETasman Sea, 65 km west of Whanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoJul 15, 1986 05:03 am (GMT +12)5.580 km43 km (26 mi) to the SETasman Sea, 99 km northwest of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoJul 5, 1980 05:03 am (Auckland)5.4219 km90 km (56 mi) to the NE 52 km southeast of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New ZealandInfoOct 2, 1977 03:39 pm (GMT +12)5.4180 km35 km (22 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 121 km north of Haulashore Island, New ZealandInfoJun 13, 1973 09:36 pm (Auckland)5.567 km41 km (26 mi) to the STasman Sea, 96 km northeast of Nelson, Nelson, New ZealandInfoMar 14, 1972 07:26 pm (Auckland)5.854 km60 km (38 mi) to the STasman Sea, 86 km northwest of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoMay 24, 1968 05:24 am (Auckland)7.020 km232 km (144 mi) to the SW South Island of New ZealandInfoFeb 21, 1967 05:10 pm (GMT +12)5.191 km77 km (48 mi) to the SETasman Sea, 91 km north of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoSep 26, 1966 03:35 pm (GMT +12)5.219 km82 km (51 mi) to the ETasman Sea, 60 km west of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoApr 6, 1965 11:49 am (Auckland)5.4220 km60 km (37 mi) to the NETasman Sea, 74 km south of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New ZealandInfoFeb 9, 1964 08:33 pm (GMT +12)5.3213 km61 km (38 mi) to the SWTasman Sea, 91 km north of Nelson, Nelson, New ZealandInfoJun 24, 1942 11:16 am (Universal Time)7.015 km191 km (119 mi) to the SE 26 km southeast of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoMar 5, 1934 11:46 am (Universal Time)7.215 km175 km (109 mi) to the ETasman Sea, 40 km southeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoFeb 13, 1931 01:27 am (Universal Time)7.345 km203 km (126 mi) to the NEManawatu-Wanganui, 66 km west of Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New ZealandInfoFeb 2, 1931 10:46 pm (Universal Time)7.435 km206 km (128 mi) to the E 47 km west of Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New ZealandInfoJun 16, 1929 10:47 pm (Universal Time)7.320 km213 km (132 mi) to the S South Island of New ZealandInfoNov 22, 1914 08:14 am (Universal Time)7.0100 km218 km (136 mi) to the NE North IslandInfoAug 9, 1904 10:51 am (GMT +12)7.50 km260 km (162 mi) to the ESouth 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 +][smaller][bigger]