M6.2 Earthquake 285 km SW of Bluff, New Zealand — April 29, 2025
2025-04-29 13:16:32 UTC (2025-04-29) · approx. 12:16 AM UTC+11 local
On April 29, 2025 at 13:16 UTC, a magnitude 6.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 285 km SW of Bluff, New Zealand, at a depth of 10.6 km and coordinates -48.1824°, 165.3571°. The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 174 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 591, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 11 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
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 211 |
Earthquake Details
165.3571°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 6.2 earthquake near Bluff, New Zealand?
The magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck 285 km SW of Bluff, New Zealand on April 29, 2025 at 13:16 UTC had a depth of 10.6 km. For context, this was a strong earthquake capable of causing significant damage.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -48.1824°, 165.3571°, which is 285 km SW of Bluff, New Zealand. View all earthquakes in New Zealand.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 6.2 earthquakes can continue for weeks to months 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 6.2 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000pvt7). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, April 29, 2025). M6.2 Earthquake 285 km SW of Bluff, New Zealand — April 29, 2025. Retrieved July 11, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000pvt7/