Latest earthquakes near Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui today
Complete overview of the latest earthquakes near Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand, updated every minute. Did you feel an earthquake today in Palmerston North? If an earthquake is happening right now near Palmerston North, it will show up within minutes.
Recent Palmerston North Earthquake News
These are the latest articles published related to earthquakes occurring near Palmerston North. Check our Earthquake News section for a complete overview of articles written on earthquakes near Palmerston North and elsewhere.
Aug 2, 2026 08:35PM
Significant M5.6 Earthquake struck on Sunday Evening 176km from Tauranga in New Zealand.
Jul 25, 2026 04:51AM
On Saturday Night a Shallow M5.7 Earthquake struck near Taupo in New Zealand.
Palmerston North Earthquake Statistics
Average
A total of 868 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 km (186 mi) of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui in the past 10 years. This comes down to a yearly average of 86 earthquakes per year, or 7 per month. On average an earthquake will hit near Palmerston North roughly every 4 days.
A relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near Palmerston North in 2016. A total of 329 earthquakes (mag 4+) were detected within 300 km of Palmerston North that year. The strongest had a 6.5 magnitude.
Magnitude Distribution
The table below visualizes the distribution of all earthquakes that occurred within 300km of Palmerston North in the past 10 years. No earthquakes with a magnitude of 7 or above have occurred near Palmerston North 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 | 800 | 92.17% |
| Mag. 5 | 64 | 7.37% |
| Mag. 6 | 4 | 0.46% |
| Mag. 7 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 8 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 9 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
Strongest earthquakes near Palmerston North
The strongest recent earthquake of the past 10 years near Palmerston North occurred on Nov 14, 2016 00:32 local time (Pacific/Auckland timezone). It had a magnitude of 6.5 and struck 272 kilometers (169 mi) south-west of Palmerston North, at a depth of 10 km. Discover more strong earthquakes near Palmerston North in the list below.
A longer time ago, a MAG-7.4 earthquake struck on Feb 3, 1931 10:46, 91 kilometers (57 mi) south-west of Palmerston North. It is the strongest earthquake near Palmerston North 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 Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui 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 Palmerston North.
Nearest earthquakes from Palmerston North
These are the earthquakes with their epicenter nearest to Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui. 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 Palmerston North.
When was the last earthquake in Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui?
A 3.1 magnitude earthquake hit near Palmerston North on the evening of August 18, 2026 at 18:35 local time (Pacific/Auckland). The center of this earthquake was located 142km northwest of Palmerston North at a depth of 130km under land. Check the list on our website for any earthquakes occurring near Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui in the past hours.
What was the strongest earthquake near Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui?
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit near Palmerston North on the morning of February 3, 1931 at 10:46 local time (Pacific/Auckland). The center of this earthquake was located 91km north-east of Palmerston North at a depth of 35km under land. This is the strongest earthquake that occurred near Palmerston North since the year 1900.
How often do earthquakes occur near Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui?
In the past 10 years, 868 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from Palmerston North. This averages to 87 earthquakes yearly, or one earthquake every 4 days.
