EMSC · September 17, 2026
Magnitude 3.6 earthquake — 12 km ESE of Ngongotaha, New Zealand
A magnitude 3.6 earthquake was recorded near 12 km ESE of Ngongotaha, New Zealand on Sep 17, 2026, 05:28 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+12), at a depth of about 192.5 km, according to EMSC.
EMSCIntermediate (70–300 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-16 17:46 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 3.6 · local (Richter) magnitude
- Location
- 12 km ESE of Ngongotaha, New Zealand
- Local time at the epicentre
- Sep 17, 2026, 05:28 AM — UTC+12
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-09-16 17:28 UTC
- Depth
- 192.5 km · Intermediate (70–300 km)
- Coordinates
- -38.030, 176.075
- Felt reports
- No “Did You Feel It?” reports submitted
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- EMSC (Centro Sismológico Euromediterráneo)
Epicentre and nearby recent earthquakes
The highlighted circle is this earthquake. Smaller circles are other events recorded nearby in the last 30 days.
What the shaking was like
At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
No intensity estimate was published for this event, which is usual for small earthquakes far from populated areas.
Who lives nearby
About 100,748 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 721,415 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Ngongotaha | 12.4 km ESE | 5,240 |
| Kaharoa | 14.5 km ENE | 1,617 |
| Hamurana | 16.8 km E | 1,130 |
| Utuhina | 18.6 km SE | 1,620 |
| Rotorua | 19.2 km SE | 65,901 |
| Victoria | 19.8 km SE | 2,290 |
| Oropi | 22.5 km NNE | 2,520 |
| Ohinemutu | 22.6 km SE | 1,260 |
| Putaruru | 25.9 km W | 4,670 |
| Tokoroa | 29.0 km SW | 14,500 |
Earthquake history in this area
12 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960, in New Zealand.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
11 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 3.0 29 km S of Taumarunui, New Zealand
M 3.6 27 km S of Taumarunui, New Zealand
M 3.3 19 km NNE of Tokoroa, New Zealand
M 3.2 19 km WNW of Ohinemutu, New Zealand
M 3.4 27 km SSW of Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
M 3.2 29 km S of Taumarunui, New Zealand
M 3.2 31 km WNW of Te Kuiti, New Zealand
M 3.0 19 km ENE of Oropi, New Zealand
M 4.3 14 km SSW of Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 12 km ESE of Ngongotaha, New Zealand earthquake?
Magnitude 3.6 (local (Richter) magnitude), at a depth of 192.5 km. At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
Exactly when did it happen?
Sep 17, 2026, 05:28 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+12). In universal time: 2026-09-16 17:28 UTC.
Was it felt?
No “Did You Feel It?” reports were submitted for this event. Small earthquakes usually pass unnoticed except very close to the epicentre.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Ngongotaha, 12.4 km ESE (population 5,240).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 6.8 (150 km N of Opotiki, New Zealand, 1984), and 11 further events were recorded within 100 km in the last 30 days.
How do I get alerts for the next earthquake here?
Install the free SeismoWatch Android app, draw a box over this area, set a minimum magnitude, and turn alerts on.
About this page
Event data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and, in Venezuela, FUNVISIS. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.