Moderate magnitude 4.0 earthquake at 17 km depth21 Sep 09:25 UTC: First to report: GEONET (NZ) after 1 minute.21 Sep 09:26: Magnitude recalculated from 4.2 to 4.0. Hypocenter depth recalculated from 21.30 to 16.50 km (from 13.2 to 10.3 mi). Epicenter location corrected by 14 km (8.4 mi) towards NW.21 Sep 09:28: Now using data updates from EMSCI didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeSep 21, 2026 09:23:42 UTC - Local time at epicenterMonday, Sep 21, 2026, at 09:23 pm (Pacific/Auckland GMT +12)Statusconfirmed (manually revised)Magnitude4.00Depth16.5 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude40.9587°S / 175.5491°ECarterton District, Wellington, New ZealandSeismic antipode40.9587°N / 4.451°WSpainQuality126 seismic stationsShaking intensityIV Light shaking near epicenterFelt5 reportsPrimary data sourceEMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)Nearest volcanoRuapehu (187 km / 116 mi)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeClear Sky 12.5°C (55 F), humidity: 84%, wind: 1 m/s (3 kts) from NNWEstimated seismic energy released6.3 x 1010 joules (17.5 megawatt hours, equivalent to 15.1 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 4.0 | about seismic energy16 minutes ago reported feltSep 21, 2026 09:23 GMT / Sep 21, 2026 09:23 pm (Auckland time)Lat / Lng: -40.9587 / 175.5491: North Island OF New ZealandSource: EMSCOther sources: GEONET (NZ): 4.1 / 17 kmDetail info | Read user reports | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-23379999',-40.95870,175.54910,'16 minutes ago: Mag. 4.0, North Island OF 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 74 km (46 mi) distance southwest 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(*)RegionCountry7 km (4 mi)S of epicenterCarterton(pop: 10,300)IV: LightWellingtonNew Zealand9 km (6 mi)E of epicenterMasterton(pop: 28,700)III: WeakWellingtonNew Zealand16 km (10 mi)SE of epicenterGladstone(pop: 940)III: WeakCarterton District, WellingtonNew Zealand17 km (11 mi)NE of epicenterKopuaranga(pop: 1,130)III: WeakMasterton, WellingtonNew Zealand25 km (16 mi)SW of epicenterFeatherston(pop: 2,760)III: WeakSouth Wairarapa District, WellingtonNew Zealand29 km (18 mi)S of epicenterMartinborough(pop: 2,050)III: WeakSouth Wairarapa District, WellingtonNew Zealand40 km (25 mi)NW of epicenterOtaki(pop: 6,090)III: WeakKapiti Coast District, WellingtonNew Zealand41 km (26 mi)W of epicenterWaikanae(pop: 13,300)III: WeakKapiti Coast District, WellingtonNew Zealand43 km (27 mi)NW of epicenterLevin(pop: 19,800)III: WeakHorowhenua District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand45 km (28 mi)W of epicenterParaparaumu(pop: 29,900)III: WeakKapiti Coast District, WellingtonNew Zealand46 km (29 mi)SW of epicenterUpper Hutt(pop: 47,500)III: WeakWellingtonNew Zealand47 km (29 mi)N of epicenterShannon(pop: 1,610)III: WeakHorowhenua District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand50 km (31 mi)S of epicenterWaipawa(pop: 1,900)III: WeakSouth Wairarapa District, WellingtonNew Zealand54 km (34 mi)N of epicenterTokomaru(pop: 563)III: WeakHorowhenua District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand55 km (34 mi)W of epicenterPukerua Bay(pop: 2,070)III: WeakPorirua, WellingtonNew Zealand57 km (35 mi)E of epicenterCastlepoint(pop: 1,690)III: WeakMasterton, WellingtonNew Zealand58 km (36 mi)N of epicenterFoxton(pop: 4,780)II: Very weakHorowhenua District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand60 km (37 mi)SW of epicenterLower Hutt(pop: 113,400)II: Very weakWellingtonNew Zealand61 km (38 mi)SW of epicenterWainuiomata(pop: 20,300)II: Very weakLower Hutt, WellingtonNew Zealand61 km (38 mi)NE of epicenterPahiatua(pop: 2,860)II: Very weakManawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand62 km (38 mi)W of epicenterPorirua(pop: 61,800)II: Very weakWellingtonNew Zealand64 km (40 mi)N of epicenterLongburn(pop: 354)II: Very weakPalmerston North, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand69 km (43 mi)SW of epicenterJohnsonville(pop: 12,100)II: Very weakWellington City, WellingtonNew Zealand71 km (44 mi)N of epicenterKelvin Grove(pop: 7,950)II: Very weakPalmerston North, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand71 km (44 mi)NE of epicenterPongaroa(pop: 81)II: Very weakManawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand74 km (46 mi)N of epicenterWoodville(pop: 1,680)II: Very weakTararua District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand74 km (46 mi)SW of epicenterWellington(pop: 381,900)II: Very weakWellingtonNew Zealand75 km (46 mi)N of epicenterRongotea(pop: 700)II: Very weakManawatu District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand75 km (47 mi)SW of epicenterNewtown(pop: 10,100)II: Very weakWellington City, WellingtonNew Zealand76 km (47 mi)N of epicenterAshhurst(pop: 3,400)II: Very weakPalmerston North, Manawatu-WanganuiNew Zealand77 km (48 mi)SW of epicenterKarori(pop: 15,400)II: Very weakWellington City, WellingtonNew Zealand77 km (48 mi)N of epicenterTangimoana(pop: 303)II: Very weakManawatu District, Manawatu-WanganuiNew ZealandNotes:(*) Shaking intensity according to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) and estimated using seismic models.User-reports for this quake (5)So far, we have received 5 reports for this quake from New Zealand. The quake was reported to have been felt in up to approx. 400 km (249 mi) distance, with isolated cases to have felt the quake even 462 km (287 mi) away.Most reports came from Lower Hutt (1 report), a city with more than 110,000 inhabitants in Wellington in 60 km (37 mi) distance southwest of the epicenter, New Zealand, Pukekohe East (1 report), a town with 21,000 inhabitants in Auckland in 421 km (262 mi) distance north of the epicenter, and Auckland (1 report) (462 km or 287 mi to the north). Further below is a list of places where most people reported 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.Translatemasterton (421 km N of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / very short65.8 km WSW of epicenter [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our iOS app)24.9 km SW of epicenter [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our app)6.4 km E of epicenter [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 sMasterton matahiwii (462 km N of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 5-10 sList of cities/places with most reportsPlaceDistance from epicenterAverage reported Shaking IntensityNr. of reportsLower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand(Pop.: 113,400)60 km (37 mi)SW of epicenterIII: Weak shaking1Pukekohe East, Auckland, New Zealand(Pop.: 21,438)421 km (262 mi)N of epicenterII: Very weak shaking1Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand(Pop.: 1,530,500)462 km (287 mi)N of epicenterIV: Light shaking1Note: Only reports with latitude/longitude coordinate positions given (5 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 (*)II: Very weak shaking1421–421 km (261–261 mi)421 km (261 mi)III: Weak shaking36.4–66 km (4–41 mi)32 km (20 mi)Notes(*) Reports are filtered to exclude those that are likely highly inaccurate or esaggerated.Only reports with latitude/longitude coordinate positions given (5 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 GMT2026-09-21EpicenterAgency4.017 km10.3 mi09:23:42.376±0.27sNORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALANDEMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)4.117 km10.7 mi09:23:42New Zealand0.7 km (0.4 mi) epicenter difference with EMSCGEONET (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 1 km2 (0 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)Sep 21, 2026 09:23 pm (Auckland)16 minutes ago - felt4.017 km0 km - This quake9.1 km W of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandMain Shock (this quake)MoreMap of aftershocksEarthquake statisticsAverage number of earthquakesBased on data from the past 56 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 2,700 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: 0.09 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 11.5 years)Mag. 5 or higher: 0.85 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 1.2 years)Mag. 4 or higher: 11.1 quakes per yearMag. 3 or higher: 83 quakes per year (or 6.9 quakes per month)Mag. 2 or higher: 783 quakes per year (or 65 quakes per month)Mag. 1 or higher: 2,500 quakes per year (or 7 quakes per day)The area where this quake occurred has a very 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 2 weeks after a magnitude 4.6 earthquake had hit on Saturday, Sep 5, 2026, at 07:34 am local time (Pacific/Auckland GMT +13) in 76 km (47 mi) distance to the west:Mag. 4.6 earthquake Tasman Sea - Wellington, New Zealand - Sep 5, 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 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 TimeMagDepthDistanceLocationDetailsMapSep 5, 07:34 am (Auckland)4.651 km76 km (47 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 64 km north of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 26 reportsInfoJul 31, 11:09 pm (Auckland)4.556 km90 km (56 mi) to the WTasman Sea, Manawatu-Wanganui, 40 km northwest of Wellington, New Zealand 13 reportsInfoJul 8, 06:56 pm (Auckland)4.19.2 km66 km (41 mi) to the NE 36 km east of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand 1 reportInfoJun 17, 11:41 pm (GMT +12)4.314 km94 km (58 mi) to the ESouth Pacific Ocean, 85 km east of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoJun 17, 02:33 am (Auckland)4.573 km93 km (58 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 37 km northwest of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 3 reportsInfoJan 28, 2025 11:26 pm (Auckland)5.335 km43 km (26 mi) to the NE 36 km southeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand 69 reportsInfoFeb 15, 2023 06:38 pm (GMT +12)6.350 km93 km (58 mi) to the NWTasman Sea, 81 km north of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 415 reportsInfoMay 26, 2020 12:34 pm (Auckland)5.233 km73 km (45 mi) to the NWTasman Sea, 27 km west of Foxton, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand 25 reportsInfoMay 25, 2020 07:53 am (Auckland)5.837 km75 km (46 mi) to the NWTasman Sea, 26 km west of Foxton, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand 65 reportsInfoNov 22, 2016 12:19 am (Universal Time)5.210 km94 km (58 mi) to the NESouth Pacific Ocean, 286 km east of Haulashore Island, New Zealand 1 reportInfoNov 13, 2016 11:02 pm (Auckland)7.710 km284 km (177 mi) to the SW 8 km southeast of Hanmer Springs, Canterbury, New Zealand 71 reportsInfoOct 12, 2015 08:05 am (Universal Time)5.622 km75 km (47 mi) to the NE 63 km southeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoSep 22, 2014 02:41 pm (Universal Time)5.311 km61 km (38 mi) to the NE North Island, New ZealandInfoSep 23, 2014 02:41 am (Auckland)5.329 km56 km (35 mi) to the NE 35 km southeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoJan 20, 2014 02:52 pm (Auckland)6.128 km40 km (25 mi) to the NE 35 km NNE of Masterton, New Zealand 25 reportsInfoJan 21, 2005 06:56 am (Auckland)5.339 km41 km (25 mi) to the SW 37 km east of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoMar 9, 1996 04:40 pm (Auckland)5.812 km92 km (57 mi) to the N 33 km northwest of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoMar 2, 1992 09:05 pm (Auckland)5.528 km97 km (61 mi) to the NE 64 km east of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoSep 9, 1991 01:50 am (Auckland)5.688 km89 km (55 mi) to the NW North Island of New ZealandInfoOct 6, 1990 02:41 pm (Auckland)5.539 km72 km (45 mi) to the S 58 km southeast of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoOct 5, 1990 11:48 am (Auckland)5.637 km76 km (47 mi) to the SWTasman Sea, 26 km southeast of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoMay 13, 1990 04:23 pm (Auckland)6.421 km86 km (53 mi) to the NE 39 km east of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoFeb 19, 1990 06:34 pm (Auckland)6.324 km82 km (51 mi) to the NE 41 km E of Palmerston North, New ZealandInfoFeb 6, 1982 06:51 am (Auckland)5.464 km27 km (17 mi) to the NE 24 km N of Masterton, New ZealandInfoDec 28, 1981 05:18 am (Auckland)5.438 km82 km (51 mi) to the NE 62 km east of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoJun 10, 1975 10:11 pm (Auckland)5.652 km82 km (51 mi) to the N 21 km northeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoNov 1, 1968 01:32 pm (Auckland)5.320 km80 km (50 mi) to the SWTasman Sea, 32 km southeast of Wellington, Wellington, New ZealandInfoNov 12, 1967 06:58 am (Auckland)5.311 km21 km (13 mi) to the E 12 km east of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoDec 28, 1961 11:48 am (Auckland)6.420 km41 km (26 mi) to the SE 37 km southeast of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoDec 2, 1942 12:14 am (Universal Time)6.225 km54 km (34 mi) to the NE 37 km southeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoAug 1, 1942 12:34 pm (Universal Time)6.835 km27 km (17 mi) to the NW North Island of New ZealandInfoAug 1, 1942 04:47 am (Universal Time)5.515 km25 km (16 mi) to the E 17 km northeast of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoJun 24, 1942 11:16 am (Universal Time)7.015 km32 km (20 mi) to the SE 26 km southeast of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoDec 30, 1938 02:20 am (Universal Time)6.015 km90 km (56 mi) to the NE 58 km east of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoMar 5, 1934 11:46 am (Universal Time)7.215 km52 km (33 mi) to the NETasman Sea, 40 km southeast of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New ZealandInfoFeb 13, 1931 01:27 am (Universal Time)7.345 km178 km (111 mi) to the NManawatu-Wanganui, 66 km west of Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New ZealandInfoFeb 2, 1931 10:46 pm (Universal Time)7.435 km150 km (93 mi) to the NE 47 km west of Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New ZealandInfoJun 16, 1929 10:47 pm (Universal Time)7.320 km227 km (141 mi) to the SWTasman, 81 km south of Nelson, Nelson, New ZealandInfoAug 5, 1917 03:50 pm (Universal Time)6.715 km89 km (55 mi) to the SESouth Pacific Ocean, 82 km southeast of Masterton, Wellington, New ZealandInfoNov 22, 1914 08:14 am (Universal Time)7.0100 km221 km (137 mi) to the N 36 km south of Taupo, Waikato, New ZealandInfoAug 9, 1904 10:51 am (GMT +12)7.50 km133 km (82 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]