M4.9 earthquake — 146 km ENE of Hicks Bay, New Zealand
An magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred 146 km ENE of Hicks Bay, New Zealand on Jul 16, 2026 at 08:57 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 10 km — a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes concentrate their energy near the surface, so they tend to produce stronger shaking close to the epicenter.
Event data
| Magnitude | M4.9 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10.0 km |
| Coordinates | -37.324, 179.918 |
| Time | Jul 16, 08:57 UTC |
| Location | 146 km ENE of Hicks Bay, New Zealand |
| USGS event ID | us7000t0x8 |
What this magnitude typically means
Light earthquakes are felt by most people nearby but rarely cause damage. Distance, depth, and soil type determine whether a quake feels sharp or barely noticeable. Tremor does not compute a single local shaking figure here, because how strong a quake feels at any address depends on distance, depth and local geology — open the interactive globe to explore the ShakeMap and estimated intensity.
Nearby recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Distance | Time (UTC) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.9 | 158 km | Aug 6, 21:17 UTC | 64 km NE of Mangapapa, New Zealand |
| M4.8 | 185 km | Aug 10, 07:17 UTC | 46 km WNW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.