Latest earthquakes near Southland, New Zealand today
Complete overview of the latest earthquakes near Southland, New Zealand, updated every minute. Did you feel an earthquake today in Southland? If an earthquake is happening right now near Southland, it will show up within minutes.
Recent Southland Earthquake News
These are the latest articles published related to earthquakes occurring near Southland. Check our Earthquake News section for a complete overview of articles written on earthquakes near Southland and elsewhere.
Jul 16, 2026 09:14PM
On Thursday Evening a Significant M5.9 Earthquake struck 161km from Invercargill in New Zealand.
Southland Earthquake Statistics
Average
A total of 263 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 km (186 mi) of Southland, New Zealand in the past 10 years. This comes down to a yearly average of 26 earthquakes per year, or 2 per month. On average an earthquake will hit near Southland roughly every 13 days.
A relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near Southland in 2025. A total of 47 earthquakes (mag 4+) were detected within 300 km of Southland that year. The strongest had a 6.7 magnitude.
Magnitude Distribution
The table below visualizes the distribution of all earthquakes that occurred within 300km of Southland in the past 10 years. No earthquakes with a magnitude of 7 or above have occurred near Southland 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 | 249 | 94.68% |
| Mag. 5 | 12 | 4.56% |
| Mag. 6 | 2 | 0.76% |
| Mag. 7 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 8 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 9 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
Strongest earthquakes near Southland
The strongest recent earthquake of the past 10 years near Southland occurred on Mar 25, 2025 14:43 local time (Pacific/Auckland timezone). It had a magnitude of 6.7 and struck 194 kilometers (121 mi) west of Invercargill, at a depth of 21 km. Discover more strong earthquakes near Southland in the list below.
A longer time ago, a MAG-7.8 earthquake struck on Jul 15, 2009 21:22, 155 kilometers (96 mi) west of Invercargill. It is the strongest earthquake near Southland 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 Southland, 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 Southland.
Earthquakes by city in Southland
Click the links below for earthquake reports for major places in Southland, New Zealand.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions are commonly asked in relation to earthquakes occurring near Southland.
When was the last earthquake in Southland, New Zealand?
A 3.6 magnitude earthquake hit near Southland on the afternoon of July 23, 2026 at 14:16 local time (Pacific/Auckland). The center of this earthquake was located 292km north-east of Invercargill at a depth of 5km under land. Check the list on our website for any earthquakes occurring near Southland, New Zealand in the past hours.
What was the strongest earthquake near Southland, New Zealand?
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit near Southland on the evening of July 15, 2009 at 21:22 local time (Pacific/Auckland). The center of this earthquake was located 155km west-northwest of Invercargill at a depth of 12km under water in the Tasman Sea. This is the strongest earthquake that occurred near Southland since the year 1900.
How often do earthquakes occur near Southland, New Zealand?
In the past 10 years, 263 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from Southland. This averages to 26 earthquakes yearly, or one earthquake every 14 days.
