M5.0 Earthquake in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand region — October 16, 2026
2026-10-16 14:09:54 UTC (2 hours ago) · approx. 1:09 AM UTC+11 local
On October 16, 2026 at 14:09 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand region, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -49.8826°, 163.4041°. This earthquake was detected by 49 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — 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
Earthquake Details
163.4041°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand region?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand region on October 16, 2026 at 14:09 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -49.8826°, 163.4041°, which is in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand region. View all earthquakes in New Zealand.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000u2q5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, October 16, 2026). M5.0 Earthquake in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand region — October 16, 2026. Retrieved October 16, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000u2q5/