Latest earthquakes near Christchurch, Canterbury today
Complete overview of the latest earthquakes near Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand, updated every minute. Did you feel an earthquake today in Christchurch? If an earthquake is happening right now near Christchurch, it will show up within minutes.
Recent Christchurch Earthquake News
These are the latest articles published related to earthquakes occurring near Christchurch. Check our Earthquake News section for a complete overview of articles written on earthquakes near Christchurch and elsewhere.
Sep 2, 2026 06:57PM
Shallow M5.2 Earthquake struck on Wednesday Evening 238km from Dunedin in New Zealand.
Sep 2, 2026 06:13PM
On Wednesday Evening a Shallow M5.1 FORESHOCK struck 236km from Dunedin in New Zealand.
Christchurch Earthquake Statistics
Average
A total of 574 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 km (186 mi) of Christchurch, Canterbury in the past 10 years. This comes down to a yearly average of 57 earthquakes per year, or 4 per month. On average an earthquake will hit near Christchurch roughly every 6 days.
A relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near Christchurch in 2016. A total of 358 earthquakes (mag 4+) were detected within 300 km of Christchurch that year. The strongest had a 7.8 magnitude.
Magnitude Distribution
The table below visualizes the distribution of all earthquakes that occurred within 300km of Christchurch in the past 10 years. No earthquakes with a magnitude of 8 or above have occurred near Christchurch 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 | 528 | 91.99% |
| Mag. 5 | 41 | 7.14% |
| Mag. 6 | 4 | 0.7% |
| Mag. 7 | 1 | 0.17% |
| Mag. 8 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 9 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
Strongest earthquakes near Christchurch
The strongest recent earthquake of the past 10 years near Christchurch occurred on Nov 14, 2016 00:02 local time (Pacific/Auckland timezone). It had a magnitude of 7.8 and struck 95 kilometers (59 mi) north-northeast of Christchurch, at a depth of 15 km. Discover more strong earthquakes near Christchurch in the list below.
In the table below you will find the strongest earthquakes that occurred near Christchurch, Canterbury 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 Christchurch.
Nearest earthquakes from Christchurch
These are the earthquakes with their epicenter nearest to Christchurch, Canterbury. You can use the buttons to find nearby earthquakes for a specific year or with a specific magnitude.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions are commonly asked in relation to earthquakes occurring near Christchurch.
When was the last earthquake in Christchurch, Canterbury?
A 3.1 magnitude earthquake hit near Christchurch on the night of September 27, 2026 at 03:27 local time (Pacific/Auckland). The center of this earthquake was located 52km north-east of Christchurch at a depth of 24km under water in the South Pacific Ocean. Check the list on our website for any earthquakes occurring near Christchurch, Canterbury in the past hours.
What was the strongest earthquake near Christchurch, Canterbury?
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit near Christchurch on the night of November 14, 2016 at 00:02 local time (Pacific/Auckland). The center of this earthquake was located 95km north-northeast of Christchurch at a depth of 15km under land. This is the strongest earthquake that occurred near Christchurch since the year 1900.
How often do earthquakes occur near Christchurch, Canterbury?
In the past 10 years, 574 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from Christchurch. This averages to 57 earthquakes yearly, or one earthquake every 6 days.
