Moderate magnitude 4.3 earthquake at unknown depth23 May 15:27 UTC: First to report: GEONET (NZ) after 1 minute.23 May 15:28: Magnitude recalculated from 4.9 to 4.3.23 May 15:28: Now using data updates from EMSCI didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeMay 23, 2026 15:25:38 UTC - Local time at epicenterSunday, May 24, 2026, at 03:25 am (GMT +12)StatusconfirmedMagnitude4.30Depth10 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude37.935°S / 179.2833°ENew ZealandSeismic antipode37.935°N / 0.717°WSpainShaking intensityIV Light shaking near epicenterFelt0 reportsPrimary data sourceEMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)Nearest volcanoWhite Island (191 km / 119 mi)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeOvercast Clouds 15.7°C (60 F), humidity: 76%, wind: 5 m/s (9 kts) from SEstimated seismic energy released1.8 x 1011 joules (49.4 megawatt hours, equivalent to 42.5 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 4.3 | about seismic energy9 minutes agoMay 23, 2026 15:25 GMT / May 24, 2026 03:25 am (GMT +12)Lat / Lng: -37.935 / 179.2833: New Zealand: Off E. Coast OF N. Island, N.Z.Source: EMSCOther sources: GEONET (NZ): 4.2 / 12 kmDetail info | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-23028255',-37.93500,179.28330,'9 minutes ago: Mag. 4.3, New Zealand: Off E. Coast OF N. Island, N.Z.',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 Hicks Bay, a town with 1,400 inhabitants in New Zealand, in 94 km (58 mi) distance northwest of the epicenter. People likely experienced very weak shaking there. Several smaller towns and villages are located closer to the epicenter and might have experienced stronger shaking. In the capital of New Zealand, Wellington, 537 km (333 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(*)RegionCountry84 km (52 mi)W of epicenterRuatoria(pop: 897)III: WeakGisborne District, GisborneNew Zealand89 km (55 mi)W of epicenterTokomaru(pop: 954)II: Very weakGisborne District, GisborneNew Zealand94 km (58 mi)NW of epicenterHicks Bay(pop: 1,390)II: Very weakGisborne District, GisborneNew Zealand99 km (61 mi)SW of epicenterTolaga Bay(pop: 932)II: Very weakGisborne District, GisborneNew Zealand137 km (85 mi)SW of epicenterGisborne(pop: 38,300)II: Very weakGisborneNew Zealand175 km (109 mi)W of epicenterOpotiki(pop: 4,880)II: Very weakBay of PlentyNew Zealand176 km (109 mi)SW of epicenterTiniroto(pop: 1,540)II: Very weakGisborne District, GisborneNew Zealand199 km (124 mi)W of epicenterTaneatua(pop: 1,500)II: Very weakWhakatane District, Bay of PlentyNew Zealand202 km (125 mi)W of epicenterWhakatane(pop: 18,600)II: Very weakBay of PlentyNew Zealand203 km (126 mi)SW of epicenterWairoa(pop: 4,940)II: Very weakHawke's BayNew Zealand215 km (134 mi)W of epicenterEdgecumbe(pop: 1,900)II: Very weakWhakatane District, Bay of PlentyNew Zealand217 km (135 mi)SW of epicenterRaupunga(pop: 1,190)II: Very weakWairoa District, Hawke's BayNew Zealand227 km (141 mi)W of epicenterKawerau(pop: 7,670)II: Very weakBay of PlentyNew Zealand233 km (145 mi)W of epicenterMurupara(pop: 1,880)II: Very weakWhakatane District, Bay of PlentyNew Zealand250 km (155 mi)W of epicenterMaketu(pop: 1,410)II: Very weakWestern Bay of Plenty District, Bay of PlentyNew Zealand260 km (162 mi)W of epicenterTe Puke(pop: 10,500)I: Not feltWestern Bay of Plenty District, Bay of PlentyNew Zealand267 km (166 mi)W of epicenterRotorua(pop: 65,900)I: Not feltBay of PlentyNew Zealand267 km (166 mi)W of epicenterKaharoa(pop: 1,620)I: Not feltRotorua District, Bay of PlentyNew Zealand269 km (167 mi)SW of epicenterNapier(pop: 66,800)I: Not feltHawke's BayNew Zealand274 km (170 mi)W of epicenterOropi(pop: 2,520)I: Not feltWestern Bay of Plenty District, Bay of PlentyNew Zealand275 km (171 mi)W of epicenterTauranga(pop: 155,200)I: Not feltBay of PlentyNew Zealand284 km (176 mi)SW of epicenterHavelock North(pop: 14,900)I: Not feltHastings District, Hawke's BayNew Zealand284 km (176 mi)SW of epicenterHastings(pop: 89,200)I: Not feltHawke's BayNew Zealand287 km (179 mi)W of epicenterOmokoroa(pop: 5,990)I: Not feltWestern Bay of Plenty District, Bay of PlentyNew Zealand291 km (181 mi)W of epicenterTaupo(pop: 26,600)I: Not feltWaikatoNew Zealand299 km (186 mi)W of epicenterKatikati(pop: 6,000)I: Not feltWestern Bay of Plenty District, Bay of PlentyNew Zealand301 km (187 mi)W of epicenterTokoroa(pop: 14,500)I: Not feltSouth Waikato District, WaikatoNew Zealand307 km (191 mi)W of epicenterPutaruru(pop: 4,670)I: Not feltSouth Waikato District, WaikatoNew Zealand309 km (192 mi)W of epicenterMatamata(pop: 6,310)I: Not feltWaikatoNew Zealand310 km (193 mi)W of epicenterWaihi(pop: 4,620)I: Not feltHauraki District, WaikatoNew Zealand312 km (194 mi)W of epicenterWhangamata(pop: 4,270)I: Not feltThames-Coromandel District, WaikatoNew Zealand318 km (197 mi)W of epicenterTe Aroha(pop: 4,700)I: Not feltMatamata-Piako District, WaikatoNew Zealand320 km (199 mi)W of epicenterTairua(pop: 1,590)I: Not feltThames-Coromandel District, WaikatoNew Zealand325 km (202 mi)SW of epicenterTurangi(pop: 3,930)I: Not feltWaikatoNew Zealand325 km (202 mi)W of epicenterPaeroa(pop: 3,990)I: Not feltHauraki District, WaikatoNew Zealand340 km (211 mi)W of epicenterWhitianga(pop: 6,230)I: Not feltThames-Coromandel District, WaikatoNew Zealand373 km (232 mi)SW of epicenterDannevirke(pop: 5,680)I: Not feltManawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand402 km (250 mi)SW of epicenterAshhurst(pop: 3,400)I: Not feltPalmerston North, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand412 km (256 mi)SW of epicenterKelvin Grove(pop: 7,950)I: Not feltPalmerston North, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand537 km (333 mi)SW of epicenterWellington(pop: 381,900)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 GMT2026-05-23EpicenterAgency4.310 km6.2 mi(*)15:25:38.769OFF E. COAST OF N. ISLAND, N.Z.EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)4.212 km7.5 mi15:25:40New Zealand13 km (8.3 mi) epicenter difference with EMSCGEONET (NZ) (Earthquake Commission and Geological Survey, New Zealand)Notes:(*) A depth given as 10 km often means that the the depth of the quake could be not determined with sufficient accuracy.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 (2 mi).[More info]Recorded aftershocks, latest first (0 quake)May 24, 2026 03:25 am (GMT +12)9 minutes ago4.310 km0 km - This quakeSouth Pacific Ocean, 137 km NE of Gisborne, Gisborne, 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 975 quakes on average per year in the area near the epicenter of this quake (within 100 km/61 mi):Mag. 7 or higher: 0.03 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 31.3 years)Mag. 6 or higher: 0.1 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 10.5 years)Mag. 5 or higher: 2.7 quakes per yearMag. 4 or higher: 38.1 quakes per year (or 3.2 quakes per month)Mag. 3 or higher: 270 quakes per year (or 22.5 quakes per month)Mag. 2 or higher: 845 quakes per year (or 70 quakes per month)Mag. 1 or higher: 973 quakes per year (or 81 quakes per month)The area where this quake occurred has a very high level of seismic activity. It has had at least 4 quakes above magnitude 7 since 1900, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 30 to 35 years.Number of quakes per yearPrevious quakes in the same area of this earthquakeThe earthquake occurred 7 weeks after a magnitude 4.3 earthquake had hit on Monday, Apr 6, 2026, at 05:22 am local time (Pacific/Auckland GMT +12) in 65 km (40 mi) distance to the west:Mag. 4.3 earthquake South Pacific Ocean - Gisborne, New Zealand - Apr 6, 2026 - The largest quake near the epicenter of this quake during the 10 years before was an event of magnitude 7.1. It had occurred 5 years earlier, on Friday, Mar 5, 2021, at 01:27 am (GMT +12 local time) in South Pacific Ocean, New Zealand:Mag. 7.1 earthquake South Pacific Ocean - Gisborne, New Zealand - Mar 5, 2021 - The strongest-ever (since 1900) recorded quake in this area measured magnitude 7.6. It had occurred 79 years ago earlier, on Tuesday, Mar 25, 1947, at 08:32 pm local time (Universal Time GMT +0) in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand:Mag. 7.6 earthquake 109 km east of Wairoa - Hawke's Bay, New Zealand - Mar 25, 1947 - 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 TimeMagDepthDistanceLocationDetailsMapApr 6, 05:22 am (Auckland)4.318 km65 km (40 mi) to the WSouth Pacific Ocean, 85 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoSep 7, 2025 07:55 am (GMT +12)5.124 km73 km (45 mi) to the NW 163 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoJul 28, 2025 01:07 pm (Auckland)4.67.9 km80 km (50 mi) to the W 91 km north of Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand 3 reportsInfoJul 25, 2025 04:17 pm (Auckland)4.412 km91 km (57 mi) to the W 54 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand 1 reportInfoMar 31, 2025 01:26 am (Auckland)4.05.5 km85 km (53 mi) to the W 87 km north of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoJan 6, 2025 06:46 am (GMT +12)4.533 km38 km (24 mi) to the ESouth Pacific Ocean, 174 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand 1 reportInfoNov 28, 2024 10:03 am (GMT +12)5.733 km46 km (28 mi) to the NE 183 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand 3 reportsInfoApr 5, 2021 07:37 pm (GMT +12)6.222 km60 km (37 mi) to the NESouth Pacific Ocean, 197 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand 82 reportsInfoMar 13, 2021 11:54 pm (GMT +12)5.512 km43 km (26 mi) to the ESouth Pacific Ocean, 178 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand 4 reportsInfoMar 6, 2021 12:16 pm (GMT +12)6.310 km49 km (31 mi) to the NESouth Pacific Ocean, 184 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoMar 5, 2021 01:27 am (GMT +12)7.190 km61 km (38 mi) to the NSouth Pacific Ocean, 192 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand 1267 reportsInfoJan 22, 2017 09:00 pm (Universal Time)5.7102 km97 km (60 mi) to the SWSouth Pacific Ocean, 337 km southeast of Waiheke Island, New Zealand 6 reportsInfoSep 2, 2016 08:06 am (GMT +12)5.510 km47 km (29 mi) to the NWSouth Pacific Ocean, 38 km east of East Island, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoSep 2, 2016 07:18 am (GMT +12)5.744 km94 km (58 mi) to the NW Off E. Coast of N. Island, N.Z.InfoSep 2, 2016 04:48 am (GMT +12)5.517 km81 km (50 mi) to the NSouth Pacific Ocean, 69 km northeast of East Island, Gisborne, New Zealand 1 reportInfoSep 2, 2016 04:47 am (GMT +12)5.510.4 km58 km (36 mi) to the NSouth Pacific Ocean, 188 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoSep 2, 2016 04:37 am (GMT +12)7.026 km54 km (34 mi) to the NSouth Pacific Ocean, 64 km northeast of East Island, Gisborne, New Zealand 24 reportsInfoSep 1, 2016 10:04 am (GMT +12)5.621 km103 km (64 mi) to the NWSouth Pacific Ocean, 67 km north of East Island, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoNov 17, 2014 10:33 am (GMT +12)6.722 km46 km (29 mi) to the NESouth Pacific Ocean, 183 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand 1 reportInfoJun 1, 2013 01:30 am (GMT +12)5.59 km63 km (39 mi) to the NESouth Pacific Ocean, 200 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoNov 18, 2011 07:51 pm (GMT +12)5.812 km19 km (12 mi) to the NESouth Pacific Ocean, 155 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoNov 18, 2011 04:34 pm (GMT +12)5.633 km84 km (52 mi) to the NESouth Pacific Ocean, 221 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoFeb 12, 2003 11:43 pm (GMT +12)5.559 km40 km (25 mi) to the WSouth Pacific Ocean, 116 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoOct 21, 2001 12:29 pm (GMT +12)6.718 km93 km (58 mi) to the NSouth Pacific Ocean, 189 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoApr 15, 1996 11:07 am (GMT +12)5.7185 km96 km (59 mi) to the NSouth Pacific Ocean, 194 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoFeb 13, 1995 01:11 pm (Auckland)6.028 km67 km (42 mi) to the NWSouth Pacific Ocean, 29 km east of Hicks Bay, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoFeb 10, 1995 01:45 pm (Auckland)6.528 km60 km (38 mi) to the WSouth Pacific Ocean, 103 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoFeb 9, 1995 10:56 pm (Auckland)5.733 km61 km (38 mi) to the W 91 km NE of Gisborne, New ZealandInfoFeb 6, 1995 11:23 pm (GMT +12)5.933 km48 km (30 mi) to the WSouth Pacific Ocean, 101 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoFeb 6, 1995 10:43 pm (GMT +12)5.933 km40 km (25 mi) to the WSouth Pacific Ocean, 118 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoFeb 6, 1995 11:17 am (GMT +12)5.812 km44 km (27 mi) to the ESouth Pacific Ocean, 174 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoFeb 6, 1995 11:51 am (Auckland)7.121 km51 km (31 mi) to the WSouth Pacific Ocean, 119 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoMay 7, 1985 05:10 am (GMT +12)6.230 km51 km (32 mi) to the NSouth Pacific Ocean, 180 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoAug 30, 1973 08:54 pm (GMT +12)5.846 km71 km (44 mi) to the NSouth Pacific Ocean, 196 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoMay 17, 1947 07:06 pm (GMT +12)6.90 km64 km (40 mi) to the SWSouth Pacific Ocean, 80 km east of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoMar 25, 1947 08:32 pm (Universal Time)7.615 km105 km (65 mi) to the SW 109 km east of Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, New ZealandInfoOct 7, 1914 08:15 am (Auckland)7.00 km96 km (60 mi) to the W 96 km north of Gisborne, Gisborne, 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]