Moderate magnitude 4.9 earthquake at 750 km depth20 Sep 09:28 UTC: First to report: GEONET (NZ) after 4 minutes.I didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeSep 20, 2026 09:23:49 UTC - Local time at epicenterSunday, Sep 20, 2026, at 09:23 pm (GMT +12)Statuspreliminary (automatic detection)Magnitude4.9Depth750 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude35.9618°S / 173.0709°ENew ZealandSeismic antipode35.9618°N / 6.929°WSpainShaking intensityNot feltPrimary data sourceGEONET (NZ) (Earthquake Commission and Geological Survey, New Zealand)Nearest volcanoKaikohe-Bay of Islands (105 km / 65 mi)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeOvercast Clouds 13.5°C (56 F), humidity: 65%, wind: 11 m/s (20 kts) from SSWEstimated seismic energy released1.4 x 1012 joules (392 megawatt hours, equivalent to 338 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 4.9 | about seismic energy16 minutes agoSep 20, 2026 09:23 GMT / Sep 20, 2026 09:23 pm (GMT +12)Lat / Lng: -35.96177 / 173.07094: New ZealandSource: GEONET (NZ)Detail info | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-23377493',-35.96177,173.07094,'16 minutes ago: Mag. 4.9, 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 near the epicenter is Dargaville, a town with 5,100 inhabitants in New Zealand, in 73 km (45 mi) distance to the east, but it is unlikely that the quake was felt there. DistancePlaceMax. shaking intensity(*)RegionCountry73 km (45 mi)E of epicenterDargaville(pop: 5,130)I: Not feltKaipara District, NorthlandNew Zealand73 km (46 mi)NE of epicenterRawene(pop: 1,240)I: Not feltFar North District, NorthlandNew Zealand75 km (47 mi)E of epicenterTe Kopuru(pop: 465)I: Not feltKaipara District, NorthlandNew Zealand89 km (55 mi)E of epicenterRuawai(pop: 2,440)I: Not feltKaipara District, NorthlandNew Zealand89 km (55 mi)N of epicenterAhipara(pop: 1,090)I: Not feltFar North District, NorthlandNew Zealand90 km (56 mi)E of epicenterTangiteroria(pop: 1,800)I: Not feltKaipara District, NorthlandNew Zealand91 km (57 mi)NE of epicenterKaikohe(pop: 4,890)I: Not feltFar North District, NorthlandNew Zealand103 km (64 mi)NE of epicenterWaimate North(pop: 2,800)I: Not feltFar North District, NorthlandNew Zealand103 km (64 mi)N of epicenterAwanui(pop: 339)I: Not feltFar North District, NorthlandNew Zealand104 km (65 mi)E of epicenterMaungatapere(pop: 1,010)I: Not feltWhangarei, NorthlandNew Zealand108 km (67 mi)NE of epicenterMoerewa(pop: 1,920)I: Not feltFar North District, NorthlandNew Zealand113 km (70 mi)N of epicenterTaipa(pop: 1,730)I: Not feltFar North District, NorthlandNew Zealand114 km (71 mi)NE of epicenterKerikeri(pop: 8,280)I: Not feltFar North District, NorthlandNew Zealand116 km (72 mi)NE of epicenterKaeo(pop: 508)I: Not feltFar North District, NorthlandNew Zealand116 km (72 mi)E of epicenterWhangarei(pop: 50,900)I: Not feltNorthlandNew Zealand118 km (73 mi)E of epicenterMaungaturoto(pop: 940)I: Not feltKaipara District, NorthlandNew Zealand118 km (73 mi)E of epicenterHikurangi(pop: 1,800)I: Not feltWhangarei, NorthlandNew Zealand119 km (74 mi)NE of epicenterPaihia(pop: 1,670)I: Not feltFar North District, NorthlandNew Zealand124 km (77 mi)E of epicenterRuakaka(pop: 2,910)I: Not feltWhangarei, NorthlandNew Zealand126 km (78 mi)E of epicenterKaiwaka(pop: 565)I: Not feltKaipara District, NorthlandNew Zealand130 km (81 mi)E of epicenterWhangarei Heads(pop: 960)I: Not feltWhangarei, NorthlandNew Zealand135 km (84 mi)E of epicenterNgunguru(pop: 1,360)I: Not feltWhangarei, NorthlandNew Zealand135 km (84 mi)E of epicenterWellsford(pop: 2,110)I: Not feltAuckland, AucklandNew Zealand136 km (84 mi)E of epicenterMangawhai Heads(pop: 2,850)I: Not feltKaipara District, NorthlandNew Zealand147 km (91 mi)SE of epicenterHelensville(pop: 3,420)I: Not feltAuckland, AucklandNew Zealand151 km (94 mi)E of epicenterWarkworth(pop: 6,960)I: Not feltAuckland, AucklandNew Zealand156 km (97 mi)SE of epicenterMuriwai Beach(pop: 1,130)I: Not feltAuckland, AucklandNew Zealand160 km (99 mi)SE of epicenterOrewa(pop: 12,600)I: Not feltAuckland, AucklandNew Zealand161 km (100 mi)SE of epicenterKumeu(pop: 8,510)I: Not feltAuckland, AucklandNew Zealand166 km (103 mi)SE of epicenterPiha(pop: 1,070)I: Not feltAuckland, AucklandNew Zealand168 km (105 mi)SE of epicenterAlbany(pop: 12,500)I: Not feltAuckland, AucklandNew Zealand177 km (110 mi)SE of epicenterHuia(pop: 580)I: Not feltAuckland, AucklandNew Zealand177 km (110 mi)SE of epicenterWaitakere(pop: 208,100)I: Not feltNew Zealand178 km (111 mi)SE of epicenterAvondale(pop: 26,900)I: Not feltAuckland, AucklandNew Zealand179 km (111 mi)SE of epicenterNew Lynn(pop: 23,900)I: Not feltAuckland, AucklandNew Zealand197 km (122 mi)SE of epicenterClarks Beach(pop: 1,560)I: Not feltAuckland, AucklandNew Zealand206 km (128 mi)SE of epicenterWaiuku(pop: 9,860)I: Not feltAuckland, AucklandNew Zealand611 km (379 mi)S 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 GMT2026-09-20EpicenterAgency4.9750 km466 mi09:23:49New 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 8 km2 (3 square miles) as a first-order estimate. The length of the rupture zone thus was probably around 5 km (3 mi).[More info]Recorded aftershocks, latest first (0 quake)Sep 20, 2026 09:23 pm (GMT +12)16 minutes ago4.9750 km0 km - This quakeTasman Sea, 116 km W of Whangarei, Northland, 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 1.4 quakes on average per year in the area near the epicenter of this quake (within 100 km/61 mi):Mag. 4 or higher: 0.8 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 1.3 years)Mag. 3 or higher: 1.14 quakes per yearMag. 2 or higher: 1.29 quakes per yearThe area where this quake occurred has relatively few earthquakes. However, It has had at least 7 quakes above magnitude 4 since 2018, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 1 to 5 years.Number of quakes per yearPrevious quakes in the same area of this earthquake