M4.5 earthquake — off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand
An magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand on Aug 8, 2026 at 05:13 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 43 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 | 42.7 km |
| Coordinates | -35.176, 179.990 |
| Time | Aug 8, 05:13 UTC |
| Location | off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand |
| USGS event ID | us6000tk8t |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.5 | 297 km | Aug 30, 22:08 UTC | 109 km NW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.