Latest earthquakes near Wellington, New Zealand today
Complete overview of the latest earthquakes near Wellington, New Zealand, updated every minute. Did you feel an earthquake today in Wellington? If an earthquake is happening right now near Wellington, it will show up within minutes.
Recent Wellington Earthquake News
These are the latest articles published related to earthquakes occurring near Wellington. Check our Earthquake News section for a complete overview of articles written on earthquakes near Wellington and elsewhere.
Jan 28, 2025 11:26PM
Significant M5.1 Earthquake struck on Tuesday Evening near Palmerston North in New Zealand.
Wellington Earthquake Statistics
Average
A total of 828 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 km (186 mi) of Wellington, New Zealand in the past 10 years. This comes down to a yearly average of 82 earthquakes per year, or 6 per month. On average an earthquake will hit near Wellington roughly every 4 days.
A relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near Wellington in 2016. A total of 390 earthquakes (mag 4+) were detected within 300 km of Wellington that year. The strongest had a 7.8 magnitude.
Magnitude Distribution
The table below visualizes the distribution of all earthquakes that occurred within 300km of Wellington in the past 10 years. No earthquakes with a magnitude of 8 or above have occurred near Wellington 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 | 758 | 91.55% |
| Mag. 5 | 62 | 7.49% |
| Mag. 6 | 7 | 0.85% |
| Mag. 7 | 1 | 0.12% |
| Mag. 8 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 9 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
Strongest earthquakes near Wellington
The strongest recent earthquake of the past 10 years near Wellington occurred on Nov 14, 2016 00:02 local time (Pacific/Auckland timezone). It had a magnitude of 7.8 and struck 215 kilometers (134 mi) south-west of Wellington, at a depth of 15 km. Discover more strong earthquakes near Wellington in the list below.
In the table below you will find the strongest earthquakes that occurred near Wellington, 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 Wellington.
Earthquakes by city in Wellington
Click the links below for earthquake reports for major places in Wellington, New Zealand.
Use this regional Wellington earthquake report for earthquakes that were felt in smaller towns and cities in the region, including Porirua, Upper Hutt, Paraparaumu, Masterton, Wainuiomata and Karori.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions are commonly asked in relation to earthquakes occurring near Wellington.
When was the last earthquake in Wellington, New Zealand?
A 3.1 magnitude earthquake hit near Wellington on the night of February 5, 2025 at 00:11 local time (Pacific/Auckland). The center of this earthquake was located 43km north-northwest of Wellington at a depth of 45km under water in the Tasman Sea. Check the list on our website for any earthquakes occurring near Wellington, New Zealand in the past hours.
What was the strongest earthquake near Wellington, New Zealand?
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit near Wellington on the night of November 14, 2016 at 00:02 local time (Pacific/Auckland). The center of this earthquake was located 215km southwest of Wellington at a depth of 15km under land. This is the strongest earthquake that occurred near Wellington since the year 1900.
How often do earthquakes occur near Wellington, New Zealand?
In the past 10 years, 828 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from Wellington. This averages to 83 earthquakes yearly, or one earthquake every 4 days.
