M4.5 earthquake — 5 km S of Hicks Bay, New Zealand
An magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred 5 km S of Hicks Bay, New Zealand on Aug 28, 2026 at 05:08 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 55 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 | M4.5 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 55.2 km |
| Coordinates | -37.647, 178.290 |
| Time | Aug 28, 05:08 UTC |
| Location | 5 km S of Hicks Bay, New Zealand |
| USGS event ID | us7000tchn |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.7 | 162 km | Sep 21, 04:28 UTC | 156 km NNW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.