Latest earthquakes near Bay of Plenty, New Zealand today
Complete overview of the latest earthquakes near Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, updated every minute. Did you feel an earthquake today in Bay of Plenty? If an earthquake is happening right now near Bay of Plenty, it will show up within minutes.
Recent Bay of Plenty Earthquake News
These are the latest articles published related to earthquakes occurring near Bay of Plenty. Check our Earthquake News section for a complete overview of articles written on earthquakes near Bay of Plenty and elsewhere.
May 5, 2026 08:00PM
Shallow M5.8 Earthquake hit in the South Pacific Ocean 143km from Tauranga (New Zealand) on Tuesday Evening.
May 3, 2026 09:19AM
Significant M5.1 Earthquake hit in the South Pacific Ocean 188km from Tauranga (New Zealand) on Sunday Morning.
Bay of Plenty Earthquake Statistics
Average
A total of 870 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 km (186 mi) of Bay of Plenty, New Zealand in the past 10 years. This comes down to a yearly average of 87 earthquakes per year, or 7 per month. On average an earthquake will hit near Bay of Plenty roughly every 4 days.
A relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near Bay of Plenty in 2016. A total of 235 earthquakes (mag 4+) were detected within 300 km of Bay of Plenty that year. The strongest had a 7 magnitude.
Magnitude Distribution
The table below visualizes the distribution of all earthquakes that occurred within 300km of Bay of Plenty in the past 10 years. No earthquakes with a magnitude of 8 or above have occurred near Bay of Plenty during this time. Usually, higher magnitudes are less common than lower magnitudes. Small earthquakes with a magnitude below 4 on the Richter scale have been omitted from this overview.
| Magnitude | Earthquakes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Mag. 4 | 780 | 89.66% |
| Mag. 5 | 86 | 9.89% |
| Mag. 6 | 2 | 0.23% |
| Mag. 7 | 2 | 0.23% |
| Mag. 8 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 9 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
Strongest earthquakes near Bay of Plenty
The strongest recent earthquake of the past 10 years near Bay of Plenty occurred on Mar 5, 2021 02:27 local time (Pacific/Auckland timezone). It had a magnitude of 7.3 and struck 291 kilometers (181 mi) east of Tauranga, at a depth of 10 km. Discover more strong earthquakes near Bay of Plenty in the list below.
A longer time ago, a MAG-7.7 earthquake struck on Mar 26, 1947 08:32, 234 kilometers (145 mi) east of Tauranga. It is the strongest earthquake near Bay of Plenty in the past 126 years (Our data goes back to January 1st, 1900).
In the table below you will find the strongest earthquakes that occurred near Bay of Plenty, New Zealand in the past 10 years. You can use the tabs to find the heaviest historic earthquakes since the year 1900 or within a specific year or distance from Bay of Plenty.
Earthquakes by city in Bay of Plenty
Click the links below for earthquake reports for major places in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
Use this regional Bay of Plenty earthquake report for earthquakes that were felt in smaller towns and cities in the region, including Rotorua and Whakatane.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions are commonly asked in relation to earthquakes occurring near Bay of Plenty.
When was the last earthquake in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand?
A 3.2 magnitude earthquake hit near Bay of Plenty on the afternoon of May 19, 2026 at 13:18 local time (Pacific/Auckland). The center of this earthquake was located 72km east of Tauranga at a depth of 145km under water in the South Pacific Ocean. Check the list on our website for any earthquakes occurring near Bay of Plenty, New Zealand in the past hours.
What was the strongest earthquake near Bay of Plenty, New Zealand?
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit near Bay of Plenty on the morning of March 26, 1947 at 08:32 local time (Pacific/Auckland). The center of this earthquake was located 234km east-southeast of Tauranga at a depth of 15km under water in the South Pacific Ocean. This is the strongest earthquake that occurred near Bay of Plenty since the year 1900.
How often do earthquakes occur near Bay of Plenty, New Zealand?
In the past 10 years, 870 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from Bay of Plenty. This averages to 87 earthquakes yearly, or one earthquake every 4 days.
