USGS · September 2, 2026
Magnitude 5.2 earthquake — 70 km NNW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake was recorded near 70 km NNW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand on Sep 2, 2026, 06:57 PM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+12), at a depth of about 10.0 km, according to USGS.
USGSFelt by 4 people · community intensity IV (light)Shaking VIPAGER GreenShallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-04 18:15 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 5.2 · moment magnitude (W-phase)
- Location
- 70 km NNW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand
- Local time at the epicentre
- Sep 2, 2026, 06:57 PM — UTC+12
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-09-02 06:57 UTC
- Depth
- 10.0 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- -44.428, 168.250
- Felt reports
- Felt by 4 people · community intensity IV (light)
- Estimated shaking
- VI · Strong
- PAGER impact alert
- Green — No casualties or significant damage expected.
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 418 / 1000 · notable event
- Solution quality
- 43 seismic stations used · 93° azimuthal gap (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 VI (Strong): Felt by all; furniture moves and some plaster and weak chimneys break.
People who reported it described intensity 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 37,343 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Arthurs Point | 70.0 km SSE | 1,280 |
| Arrowtown | 72.0 km SE | 2,151 |
| Queenstown | 74.5 km SSE | 10,442 |
| Frankton | 76.3 km SSE | 3,780 |
| Wanaka | 77.4 km ESE | 13,200 |
| Jack's Point | 81.9 km SSE | 4,300 |
| Lake Hawea | 82.5 km ESE | 2,190 |
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
25 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 3.5 SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND
M 3.4 SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND
M 3.3 SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND
M 3.4 SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND
M 3.4 SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND
M 3.3 SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND
M 3.6 SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND
M 3.0 SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND
M 3.1 SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 70 km NNW of Arthurs Point, New Zealand earthquake?
Magnitude 5.2 (moment magnitude (W-phase)), at a depth of 10.0 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?
Sep 2, 2026, 06:57 PM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+12). In universal time: 2026-09-02 06:57 UTC.
Was it felt?
Felt by 4 people · community intensity IV (light). Felt by all; furniture moves and some plaster and weak chimneys break.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Arthurs Point, 70.0 km SSE (population 1,280).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 7.2 (56 km NW of Te Anau, New Zealand, 2003), and 25 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.