EMSC · October 18, 2026
Magnitude 3.3 earthquake near Rotorua, New Zealand
A magnitude 3.3 earthquake was recorded near 12 km SW of Putaruru, New Zealand on Oct 18, 2026, 04:06 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+13), at a depth of about 241.1 km, according to EMSC.
EMSCIntermediate (70–300 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-10-17 16:38 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 3.3 · local (Richter) magnitude
- Location
- 12 km SW of Putaruru, New Zealand
- Local time at the epicentre
- Oct 18, 2026, 04:06 AM — UTC+13
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-10-17 15:06 UTC
- Depth
- 241.1 km · Intermediate (70–300 km)
- Coordinates
- -37.980, 175.882
- 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 29,517 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 736,481 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Putaruru | 11.7 km SW | 4,670 |
| Matamata | 21.5 km NNW | 6,306 |
| Waharoa | 25.8 km NNW | 1,521 |
| Tokoroa | 28.2 km S | 14,500 |
| Oropi | 29.1 km ENE | 2,520 |
| Ngongotaha | 30.2 km ESE | 5,240 |
| Kaharoa | 31.0 km E | 1,617 |
| Hamurana | 34.3 km E | 1,130 |
| Utuhina | 35.6 km ESE | 1,620 |
| Greerton | 35.9 km NE | 4,590 |
Earthquake history in this area
11 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960, in New Zealand.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
14 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 3.2 31 km SSW of Maketu, New Zealand
M 3.0 15 km ESE of Oropi, New Zealand
M 3.5 10 km N of Murupara, New Zealand
M 3.1 30 km S of Taumarunui, New Zealand
M 3.4 19 km NNW of Raglan, New Zealand
M 3.5 1 km ENE of Kaharoa, New Zealand
M 3.1 14 km WNW of Putaruru, New Zealand
M 3.7 10 km SSW of Whakatane, New Zealand
M 3.4 27 km E of Acacia Bay, New Zealand
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 12 km SW of Putaruru, New Zealand
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 12 km SW of Putaruru, New Zealand earthquake?
Magnitude 3.3 (local (Richter) magnitude), at a depth of 241.1 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?
Oct 18, 2026, 04:06 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+13). In universal time: 2026-10-17 15:06 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 Putaruru, 11.7 km SW (population 4,670).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 6.5 (6 km WNW of Edgecumbe, New Zealand, 1987), and 14 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), in Venezuela FUNVISIS and in Brazil the RSBR through the Centro de Sismologia da USP. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.