Latest earthquakes near Northland, New Zealand today
Complete overview of the latest earthquakes near Northland, New Zealand, updated every minute. Did you feel an earthquake today in Northland? If an earthquake is happening right now near Northland, it will show up within minutes.
Recent Northland Earthquake News
These are the latest articles published related to earthquakes occurring near Northland. Check our Earthquake News section for a complete overview of articles written on earthquakes near Northland 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.
Northland Earthquake Statistics
Average
A total of 132 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 km (186 mi) of Northland, New Zealand in the past 10 years. This comes down to a yearly average of 13 earthquakes per year, or 1 per month. On average an earthquake will hit near Northland roughly every 27 days.
A relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near Northland in 2020. A total of 33 earthquakes (mag 4+) were detected within 300 km of Northland that year. The strongest had a 5.6 magnitude.
Magnitude Distribution
The table below visualizes the distribution of all earthquakes that occurred within 300km of Northland in the past 10 years. No earthquakes with a magnitude of 6 or above have occurred near Northland 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 | 122 | 92.42% |
| Mag. 5 | 10 | 7.58% |
| Mag. 6 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 7 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 8 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 9 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
Strongest earthquakes near Northland
The strongest recent earthquake of the past 10 years near Northland occurred on May 5, 2026 20:00 local time (Pacific/Auckland timezone). It had a magnitude of 5.8 and struck 287 kilometers (178 mi) south-east of Whangarei, at a depth of 10 km. Discover more strong earthquakes near Northland in the list below.
A longer time ago, a MAG-6.2 earthquake struck on Mar 1, 1974 01:59, 256 kilometers (159 mi) south-east of Whangarei. It is the strongest earthquake near Northland 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 Northland, 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 Northland.
Earthquakes by city in Northland
Click the links below for earthquake reports for major places in Northland, New Zealand.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions are commonly asked in relation to earthquakes occurring near Northland.
When was the last earthquake in Northland, New Zealand?
A 3.3 magnitude earthquake hit near Northland on the afternoon of May 18, 2026 at 16:19 local time (Pacific/Auckland). The center of this earthquake was located 290km south-east of Whangarei at a depth of 176km under land. Check the list on our website for any earthquakes occurring near Northland, New Zealand in the past hours.
What was the strongest earthquake near Northland, New Zealand?
A 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit near Northland on the night of March 1, 1974 at 01:59 local time (Pacific/Auckland). The center of this earthquake was located 256km east-southeast of Whangarei at a depth of 15km under water in the South Pacific Ocean. This is the strongest earthquake that occurred near Northland since the year 1900.
How often do earthquakes occur near Northland, New Zealand?
In the past 10 years, 132 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from Northland. This averages to 13 earthquakes yearly, or one earthquake every 28 days.
