M5.1 Earthquake 9 km WNW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand — May 2, 2026
2026-05-02 21:19:13 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 9:19 AM UTC+12 local
Felt by 6 people across nearby locations. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 4.2 (moderate).
On May 2, 2026 at 21:19 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 9 km WNW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates -37.5613°, 178.2023°. The earthquake was reported felt by 6 peopleacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 4.2 (moderate). The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 32 seismic stations with moderate location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 402, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 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
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 6 citizen responses 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
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 | 203,213 |
| MMI 4 | light | 4,349 |
Earthquake Details
178.2023°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Hicks Bay, New Zealand?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 9 km WNW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand on May 2, 2026 at 21:19 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. It was felt by 6 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 4.2 (moderate). For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -37.5613°, 178.2023°, which is 9 km WNW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand. View all earthquakes in New Zealand.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 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 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000shut). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 2, 2026). M5.1 Earthquake 9 km WNW of Hicks Bay, New Zealand — May 2, 2026. Retrieved May 2, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000shut/