Latest earthquakes near Taranaki, New Zealand today
Complete overview of the latest earthquakes near Taranaki, New Zealand, updated every minute. Did you feel an earthquake today in Taranaki? If an earthquake is happening right now near Taranaki, it will show up within minutes.
Recent Taranaki Earthquake News
These are the latest articles published related to earthquakes occurring near Taranaki. Check our Earthquake News section for a complete overview of articles written on earthquakes near Taranaki and elsewhere.
Oct 15, 2026 06:25PM
On Thursday Evening a Significant M5.3 Earthquake struck near Hamilton in New Zealand.
Taranaki Earthquake Statistics
Average
A total of 594 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 km (186 mi) of Taranaki, New Zealand in the past 10 years. This comes down to a yearly average of 59 earthquakes per year, or 4 per month. On average an earthquake will hit near Taranaki roughly every 6 days.
A relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near Taranaki in 2016. A total of 107 earthquakes (mag 4+) were detected within 300 km of Taranaki that year. The strongest had a 5.7 magnitude.
Magnitude Distribution
The table below visualizes the distribution of all earthquakes that occurred within 300km of Taranaki in the past 10 years. No earthquakes with a magnitude of 7 or above have occurred near Taranaki 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 | 558 | 93.94% |
| Mag. 5 | 35 | 5.89% |
| Mag. 6 | 1 | 0.17% |
| Mag. 7 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 8 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 9 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
Strongest earthquakes near Taranaki
The strongest recent earthquake of the past 10 years near Taranaki occurred on Oct 30, 2018 15:13 local time (Pacific/Auckland timezone). It had a magnitude of 6.1 and struck 76 kilometers (47 mi) east of New Plymouth, at a depth of 226 km. Discover more strong earthquakes near Taranaki in the list below.
A longer time ago, a MAG-7.4 earthquake struck on Feb 3, 1931 10:46, 206 kilometers (128 mi) east of New Plymouth. It is the strongest earthquake near Taranaki 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 Taranaki, 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 Taranaki.
Earthquakes by city in Taranaki
Click the links below for earthquake reports for major places in Taranaki, New Zealand.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions are commonly asked in relation to earthquakes occurring near Taranaki.
When was the last earthquake in Taranaki, New Zealand?
A 3 magnitude earthquake hit near Taranaki on the afternoon of November 6, 2026 at 16:49 local time (Pacific/Auckland). The center of this earthquake was located 209km north-east of New Plymouth at a depth of 5km under land. Check the list on our website for any earthquakes occurring near Taranaki, New Zealand in the past hours.
What was the strongest earthquake near Taranaki, New Zealand?
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit near Taranaki on the morning of February 3, 1931 at 10:46 local time (Pacific/Auckland). The center of this earthquake was located 206km east-southeast of New Plymouth at a depth of 35km under land. This is the strongest earthquake that occurred near Taranaki since the year 1900.
How often do earthquakes occur near Taranaki, New Zealand?
In the past 10 years, 594 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from Taranaki. This averages to 59 earthquakes yearly, or one earthquake every 6 days.
