M4.6 Earthquake 208 km SSE of Waipawa, New Zealand — May 27, 2026
2026-05-27 20:46:55 UTC (2026-05-27) · approx. 8:46 AM UTC+12 local
On May 27, 2026 at 20:46 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 208 km SSE of Waipawa, New Zealand, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -43.0796°, 176.6655°. This earthquake was detected by 39 seismic stations with excellent 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
Earthquake Details
176.6655°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Waipawa, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 208 km SSE of Waipawa, New Zealand on May 27, 2026 at 20:46 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -43.0796°, 176.6655°, which is 208 km SSE of Waipawa, 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: us7000snxz). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 27, 2026). M4.6 Earthquake 208 km SSE of Waipawa, New Zealand — May 27, 2026. Retrieved July 21, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000snxz/