M4.6 Earthquake 64 km NNE of Waikawa, New Zealand — March 6, 2025
2025-03-06 13:20:54 UTC (2025-03-06) · approx. 1:20 AM UTC+12 local
Felt by 1 person across nearby locations.
On March 6, 2025 at 13:20 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 intermediate depth earthquake struck 64 km NNE of Waikawa, New Zealand, at a depth of 75.0 km and coordinates -40.7081°, 174.2494°. This earthquake was detected by 27 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in New Zealand, a region characterized by the Hikurangi subduction zone in the North Island and the Alpine Fault in the South Island. The nearest mapped fault system is the Alpine Fault. View all earthquakes in New Zealand.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 1 citizen response to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Earthquake Details
174.2494°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Waikawa, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 64 km NNE of Waikawa, New Zealand on March 6, 2025 at 13:20 UTC had a depth of 75.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -40.7081°, 174.2494°, which is 64 km NNE of Waikawa, New Zealand. View all earthquakes in New Zealand.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has New Zealand had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in New Zealand was the M8.2 Wairarapa earthquake of January 23, 1855. Today's magnitude 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000px70). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, March 6, 2025). M4.6 Earthquake 64 km NNE of Waikawa, New Zealand — March 6, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000px70/