USGS · August 7, 2026
Magnitude 4.8 earthquake — 68 km NE of Mangapapa, New Zealand
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake was recorded near 68 km NE of Mangapapa, New Zealand on Aug 7, 2026, 09:17 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+12), at a depth of about 16.6 km, according to USGS.
USGSShaking IVPAGER GreenShallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-04 18:47 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 4.8 · body-wave magnitude
- Location
- 68 km NE of Mangapapa, New Zealand
- Local time at the epicentre
- Aug 7, 2026, 09:17 AM — UTC+12
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-08-06 21:17 UTC
- Depth
- 16.6 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- -38.241, 178.607
- Felt reports
- No “Did You Feel It?” reports submitted
- Estimated shaking
- IV · Light
- PAGER impact alert
- Green — No casualties or significant damage expected.
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 354 / 1000 · notable event
- Solution quality
- 33 seismic stations used · 205° azimuthal gap (less well-constrained epicentre)
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- USGS
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
Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
Estimated instrumental shaking IV (Light): Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
Felt it yourself? USGS collects first-hand reports through “Did You Feel It?”, and those reports are what produce the community intensity above.
Who lives nearby
About 0 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 70,795 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Mangapapa | 68.2 km SW | 5,160 |
| Wainui | 68.3 km SW | 1,716 |
| Whataupoko | 68.3 km SW | 4,310 |
| Tamarau | 68.7 km SW | 2,730 |
| Kaiti | 69.1 km SW | 8,720 |
| Gisborne | 69.7 km SW | 38,100 |
| Te Hapara | 70.3 km SW | 8,670 |
| Hicks Bay | 76.2 km NNW | 1,389 |
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
10 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 3.5 19 km N of Wainui, New Zealand
M 4.3 17 km N of Hicks Bay, New Zealand
M 3.1 59 km SW of Mangapapa, New Zealand
M 3.0 34 km W of Wainui, New Zealand
M 3.5 29 km SSW of Mangapapa, New Zealand
M 3.0 48 km WSW of Wainui, New Zealand
M 3.3 22 km SW of Mangapapa, New Zealand
M 3.3 52 km N of Hicks Bay, New Zealand
M 3.0 43 km WNW of Opotiki, New Zealand
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 68 km NE of Mangapapa, New Zealand earthquake?
Magnitude 4.8 (body-wave magnitude), at a depth of 16.6 km. Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
Exactly when did it happen?
Aug 7, 2026, 09:17 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+12). In universal time: 2026-08-06 21:17 UTC.
Was it felt?
No “Did You Feel It?” reports were submitted for this event. Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Mangapapa, 68.2 km SW (population 5,160).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 7.3 (182 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand, 2021), and 10 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.