Moderate magnitude 4.6 earthquake at 25 km depth4 Sep 05:05 UTC: First to report: GEONET (NZ) after 2 minutes.4 Sep 05:06: Hypocenter depth recalculated from 10.00 to 5.00 km (from 6.2 to 3.1 mi).4 Sep 05:09: Magnitude recalculated from 4.5 to 4.6. Hypocenter depth recalculated from 5.00 to 24.50 km (from 3.1 to 15.2 mi). Epicenter location corrected by 27 km (17 mi) towards NW.I didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeSep 4, 2026 05:03:06 UTC - Local time at epicenterFriday, Sep 4, 2026, at 06:03 pm (Pacific/Auckland GMT +13)Statuspreliminary (automatic detection)Magnitude4.6Depth24.5 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude44.4776°S / 168.2733°EQueenstown-Lakes District, Otago, New ZealandSeismic antipode44.4776°N / 11.727°WSpainShaking intensityIV Light shaking near epicenterFelt0 reportsPrimary data sourceGEONET (NZ) (Earthquake Commission and Geological Survey, New Zealand)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeSnow -0.1°C (32 F), humidity: 97%, wind: 4 m/s (8 kts) from WNWEstimated seismic energy released5 x 1011 joules (139 megawatt hours, equivalent to 120 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 4.6 | about seismic energy12 minutes agoSep 4, 2026 05:03 GMT / Sep 4, 2026 06:03 pm (Auckland time)Lat / Lng: -44.47762 / 168.27333: New ZealandSource: GEONET (NZ)Detail info | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-23335653',-44.47762,168.27333,'12 minutes ago: Mag. 4.6, 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 Wanaka, a town with 13,000 inhabitants in New Zealand, in 74 km (46 mi) distance east of the epicenter. People likely experienced 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, 638 km (396 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(*)RegionCountry35 km (22 mi)SW of epicenterMilford Sound(pop: 435)III: WeakSouthland District, SouthlandNew Zealand42 km (26 mi)S of epicenterGlenorchy(pop: 318)III: WeakQueenstown-Lakes District, OtagoNew Zealand66 km (41 mi)SE of epicenterArrowtown(pop: 2,150)III: WeakQueenstown-Lakes District, OtagoNew Zealand69 km (43 mi)SE of epicenterQueenstown(pop: 10,400)III: WeakOtagoNew Zealand73 km (45 mi)SE of epicenterCardrona(pop: 800)III: WeakQueenstown-Lakes District, OtagoNew Zealand74 km (46 mi)E of epicenterWanaka(pop: 13,100)III: WeakQueenstown-Lakes District, OtagoNew Zealand80 km (49 mi)E of epicenterLake Hawea(pop: 2,190)III: WeakQueenstown-Lakes District, OtagoNew Zealand81 km (50 mi)NE of epicenterOkuru(pop: 84)III: WeakWestland District, West CoastNew Zealand84 km (52 mi)E of epicenterLuggate(pop: 474)III: WeakQueenstown-Lakes District, OtagoNew Zealand91 km (56 mi)NE of epicenterHaast(pop: 279)III: WeakWestland District, West CoastNew Zealand96 km (60 mi)SE of epicenterCromwell(pop: 5,160)III: WeakCentral Otago District, OtagoNew Zealand113 km (70 mi)SW of epicenterTe Anau(pop: 2,910)III: WeakSouthland District, SouthlandNew Zealand122 km (76 mi)SE of epicenterAlexandra(pop: 5,830)III: WeakCentral Otago District, OtagoNew Zealand147 km (92 mi)E of epicenterTwizel(pop: 1,780)II: Very weakMackenzie District, CanterburyNew Zealand172 km (107 mi)NE of epicenterWaikowhai(pop: 5,550)II: Very weakWestland District, West CoastNew Zealand186 km (116 mi)S of epicenterWinton(pop: 2,190)II: Very weakSouthland District, SouthlandNew Zealand188 km (117 mi)S of epicenterGore(pop: 13,100)II: Very weakSouthlandNew Zealand194 km (121 mi)S of epicenterMataura(pop: 1,680)II: Very weakGore District, SouthlandNew Zealand209 km (130 mi)S of epicenterRiverton(pop: 1,680)II: Very weakSouthland District, SouthlandNew Zealand214 km (133 mi)S of epicenterInvercargill(pop: 57,600)II: Very weakSouthlandNew Zealand222 km (138 mi)E of epicenterWaimate(pop: 3,650)II: Very weakCanterburyNew Zealand222 km (138 mi)SE of epicenterPalmerston(pop: 1,050)II: Very weakOtagoNew Zealand224 km (139 mi)E of epicenterOamaru(pop: 13,000)II: Very weakOtagoNew Zealand224 km (139 mi)SE of epicenterWaikouaiti(pop: 1,330)II: Very weakDunedin City, OtagoNew Zealand225 km (140 mi)SE of epicenterMosgiel(pop: 14,800)II: Very weakDunedin City, OtagoNew Zealand226 km (140 mi)SE of epicenterMilton(pop: 2,010)II: Very weakClutha District, OtagoNew Zealand227 km (141 mi)SE of epicenterBalclutha(pop: 4,440)II: Very weakClutha District, OtagoNew Zealand229 km (142 mi)E of epicenterPleasant Point(pop: 1,470)II: Very weakTimaru District, CanterburyNew Zealand234 km (145 mi)SE of epicenterDunedin(pop: 131,800)II: Very weakOtagoNew Zealand236 km (147 mi)S of epicenterBluff(pop: 1,940)II: Very weakInvercargill, SouthlandNew Zealand237 km (147 mi)SE of epicenterPort Chalmers(pop: 1,460)II: Very weakDunedin City, OtagoNew Zealand237 km (147 mi)E of epicenterTimaru(pop: 29,400)II: Very weakCanterburyNew Zealand240 km (149 mi)E of epicenterGeraldine(pop: 2,300)II: Very weakTimaru District, CanterburyNew Zealand241 km (150 mi)E of epicenterTemuka(pop: 4,840)II: Very weakTimaru District, CanterburyNew Zealand250 km (155 mi)S of epicenterPapatowai(pop: 6,590)II: Very weakClutha District, OtagoNew Zealand255 km (158 mi)E of epicenterEaling(pop: 1,740)II: Very weakAshburton District, CanterburyNew Zealand283 km (176 mi)E of epicenterAshburton(pop: 21,300)II: Very weakCanterburyNew Zealand292 km (182 mi)NE of epicenterHokitika(pop: 3,350)II: Very weakWestland District, West CoastNew Zealand325 km (202 mi)NE of epicenterGreymouth(pop: 9,420)II: Very weakGrey District, West CoastNew Zealand638 km (396 mi)NE 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 GMT2026-09-4EpicenterAgency4.625 km15 mi05:03:06New ZealandGEONET (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 4 km2 (2 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 4, 2026 06:03 pm (Auckland)12 minutes ago4.625 km0 km - This quake69 km NW of Queenstown, Otago, 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 552 quakes on average per year in the area near the epicenter of this quake (within 100 km/61 mi):Mag. 6 or higher: 0.06 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 18.2 years)Mag. 5 or higher: 0.94 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 1.1 years)Mag. 4 or higher: 13.8 quakes per yearMag. 3 or higher: 107 quakes per year (or 8.9 quakes per month)Mag. 2 or higher: 474 quakes per year (or 39.5 quakes per month)Mag. 1 or higher: 551 quakes per year (or 46 quakes per month)The area where this quake occurred has a high level of seismic activity. It has had at least 7 quakes above magnitude 6 since 1900, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 15 to 20 years.Number of quakes per yearPrevious quakes in the same area of this earthquakeThe earthquake occurred 1 day 21 hours after a magnitude 4.6 earthquake had hit on Wednesday, Sep 2, 2026, at 07:39 pm local time (Pacific/Auckland GMT +12) in 5.1 km (3.2 mi) distance to the northeast:Mag. 4.6 earthquake Southland - Otago, New Zealand -The largest quake near the epicenter of this quake during the 10 years before was an event of magnitude 5.9. It had occurred 7 weeks earlier, on Thursday, Jul 16, 2026, at 10:14 pm local time (Pacific/Auckland GMT +13) in Southland District, New Zealand:Mag. 5.9 earthquake 42 km north of Te Anau - Southland, New Zealand - Jul 16, 2026 -The strongest-ever (since 1900) recorded quake in this area measured magnitude 7.8. It had occurred 17 years ago earlier, on Wednesday, Jul 15, 2009, at 09:22 pm local time (Pacific/Auckland GMT +12) in Tasman Sea, New Zealand:Mag. 7.8 earthquake Tasman Sea - 21 km west of Cooper Island, New Zealand - Jul 15, 2009 -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 2, 07:39 pm (Auckland)4.65 km5.1 km (3.2 mi) to the NESouthland, 72 km northwest of Wanaka, Otago, New Zealand I felt it - 1 reportInfoSep 2, 08:12 pm (Auckland)4.85 km3.2 km (2 mi) to the NECanterbury, 73 km west of Wanaka, Otago, New Zealand I felt it - 3 reportsInfoSep 2, 06:57 pm (Auckland)5.210 km5.8 km (3.6 mi) to the NSouthland, 77 km northwest of Wanaka, Otago, New Zealand I felt it - 17 reportsInfoSep 2, 06:13 pm (Auckland)5.310 km4.5 km (2.8 mi) to the NESouthland, 73 km northwest of Wanaka, Otago, New Zealand I felt it - 24 reportsInfoAug 26, 12:26 am (Auckland)4.310 km33 km (21 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 96 km northwest of Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand 4 reportsInfoJul 16, 10:14 pm (Auckland)5.976 km82 km (51 mi) to the SW 42 km north of Te Anau, Southland, New Zealand 102 reportsInfoMar 22, 2024 11:36 pm (Auckland)5.65 km22 km (14 mi) to the NWSouthland, 89 km northwest of Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand 99 reportsInfoJul 5, 2022 03:29 am (Auckland)5.55 km27 km (17 mi) to the NWest Coast, 90 km north of Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand 97 reportsInfoAug 12, 2020 10:16 pm (Auckland)5.75 km62 km (39 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 33 km west of Milford Sound, Southland, New Zealand 5 reportsInfoJun 25, 2020 10:20 am (Auckland)5.95 km65 km (40 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 35 km west of Milford Sound, Southland, New Zealand 11 reportsInfoJun 12, 2020 07:29 pm (Auckland)5.35 km40 km (25 mi) to the W New Zealand 14 reportsInfoApr 27, 2020 10:52 am (Auckland)5.667 km81 km (51 mi) to the SW 43 km north of Te Anau, Southland, New Zealand 9 reportsInfoOct 24, 2019 09:53 pm (Auckland)5.65 km70 km (43 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 38 km west of Milford Sound, Southland, New Zealand 14 reportsInfoAug 12, 2019 10:35 am (Universal Time)5.410 km49 km (30 mi) to the Wnear Magnitude 5.5, Near of Christchurch 66 reportsInfoJun 9, 2019 03:24 am (Auckland)5.55 km18 km (11 mi) to the NW 41 km northeast of Milford Sound, Southland, New Zealand 3 reportsInfoMay 4, 2015 02:29 pm (Auckland)6.05 km45 km (28 mi) to the E South Island of New Zealand 7 reportsInfoSep 4, 2010 04:35 am (Auckland)7.012 km304 km (189 mi) to the E 65 km west of Christchurch, Canterbury, New ZealandInfoJul 15, 2009 09:22 pm (Auckland)7.812 km196 km (122 mi) to the SWTasman Sea, 21 km west of Cooper Island, New ZealandInfoOct 16, 2007 09:28 am (Auckland)6.119 km73 km (46 mi) to the SW 192 km north of Invercargill, Southland, New ZealandInfoOct 16, 2007 12:31 am (Auckland)5.45 km74 km (46 mi) to the SWSouthland, 97 km west of Queenstown, Otago, New ZealandInfoOct 16, 2007 12:29 am (Auckland)6.818 km67 km (42 mi) to the SW 189 km north of Invercargill, Southland, New ZealandInfoMay 3, 2005 03:35 am (Auckland)5.413 km84 km (52 mi) to the NE 89 km southwest of Waikowhai, West Coast, New ZealandInfoAug 22, 2003 12:12 am (Auckland)7.228 km113 km (70 mi) to the SW 172 km northwest of Invercargill, Southland, New ZealandInfoFeb 24, 2002 06:37 pm (Auckland)5.412 km48 km (30 mi) to the NEWest Coast, 80 km northwest of Wanaka, Otago, New ZealandInfoDec 8, 2001 08:27 am (Auckland)5.810 km52 km (32 mi) to the NE 59 km NNW of Wanaka, New ZealandInfoAug 10, 1993 12:51 pm (Auckland)7.028 km138 km (86 mi) to the SW 167 km northwest of Invercargill, Southland, New ZealandInfoJul 19, 1988 02:58 pm (Auckland)5.5135 km99 km (62 mi) to the SW 19 km north of Te Anau, Southland, New ZealandInfoJun 4, 1988 11:27 am (Auckland)6.783 km79 km (49 mi) to the SW 47 km north of Te Anau, Southland, New ZealandInfoMay 16, 1988 06:26 am (Auckland)5.310.2 km65 km (40 mi) to the NETasman Sea, 243 km northeast of Cooper Island, New ZealandInfoMay 5, 1976 02:12 am (Auckland)5.412 km56 km (35 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 94 km northwest of Queenstown, Otago, New ZealandInfoMay 5, 1976 01:56 am (Auckland)6.619 km58 km (36 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 96 km northwest of Queenstown, Otago, New ZealandInfoSep 21, 1974 05:55 pm (Auckland)5.849 km16 km (9.7 mi) to the NW South Island of New ZealandInfoSep 21, 1974 07:48 am (Auckland)5.451 km21 km (13 mi) to the W South Island of New ZealandInfoMar 16, 1971 06:44 am (Auckland)5.663 km54 km (33 mi) to the SWSouthland, 74 km west of Queenstown, Otago, New ZealandInfoFeb 22, 1968 02:01 pm (Auckland)5.610 km40 km (25 mi) to the WTasman Sea, 89 km northwest of Queenstown, Otago, New ZealandInfoDec 23, 1967 09:58 am (Auckland)5.571 km60 km (37 mi) to the S 44 km west of Queenstown, Otago, New ZealandInfoMar 8, 1964 01:35 pm (Auckland)5.816 km29 km (18 mi) to the NWTasman Sea, 96 km northwest of Queenstown, Otago, New ZealandInfoMay 25, 1960 02:46 am (Auckland)6.215 km49 km (30 mi) to the NW South Island of New ZealandInfoOct 13, 1947 07:31 am (Universal Time)6.115 km62 km (38 mi) to the NE 54 km north of Wanaka, Otago, New ZealandInfoDec 16, 1938 05:21 pm (Universal Time)7.0100 km115 km (72 mi) to the SW 16 km west of Te Anau, Southland, 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]