Latest earthquakes near New Plymouth, Taranaki today
Complete overview of the latest earthquakes near New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand, updated every minute. Did you feel an earthquake today in New Plymouth? If an earthquake is happening right now near New Plymouth, it will show up within minutes.
Recent New Plymouth Earthquake News
These are the latest articles published related to earthquakes occurring near New Plymouth. Check our Earthquake News section for a complete overview of articles written on earthquakes near New Plymouth 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.
New Plymouth Earthquake Statistics
Average
A total of 575 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 km (186 mi) of New Plymouth, Taranaki 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 New Plymouth roughly every 6 days.
A relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near New Plymouth in 2016. A total of 107 earthquakes (mag 4+) were detected within 300 km of New Plymouth 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 New Plymouth in the past 10 years. No earthquakes with a magnitude of 7 or above have occurred near New Plymouth 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 | 541 | 94.09% |
| Mag. 5 | 33 | 5.74% |
| 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 New Plymouth
The strongest recent earthquake of the past 10 years near New Plymouth 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 New Plymouth 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 New Plymouth 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 New Plymouth, Taranaki 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 New Plymouth.
Nearest earthquakes from New Plymouth
These are the earthquakes with their epicenter nearest to New Plymouth, Taranaki. 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 New Plymouth.
When was the last earthquake in New Plymouth, Taranaki?
A 3.6 magnitude earthquake hit near New Plymouth on the morning of May 19, 2026 at 09:26 local time (Pacific/Auckland). The center of this earthquake was located 179km north-east of New Plymouth at a depth of 173km under land. Check the list on our website for any earthquakes occurring near New Plymouth, Taranaki in the past hours.
What was the strongest earthquake near New Plymouth, Taranaki?
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit near New Plymouth 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 New Plymouth since the year 1900.
How often do earthquakes occur near New Plymouth, Taranaki?
In the past 10 years, 575 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from New Plymouth. This averages to 58 earthquakes yearly, or one earthquake every 6 days.
