Earthquakes in New Zealand — January 2025

10 earthquakes were recorded in New Zealand during January 2025, an average of 0.3 per day.

8 reached magnitude 4 or above and 3 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 41 km.

The month's largest event in New Zealand was a magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on 15 January 2025 at 04:20 UTC. A magnitude 5.2 earthquake radiates roughly 951 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is close to the New Zealand monthly average of 9 events over the period we cover, and down from the 11 recorded the previous month.

90% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 10% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.

By band, the catalogue holds 1 in the magnitude 1 range, 1 in the magnitude 2 range, 5 in the magnitude 4 range, 3 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 28 January, when 2 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.2 near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on 15 January at 55 km; M5.1 near Pahiatua, New Zealand on 28 January at 45 km; M5.1 near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on 28 January at 67 km.

That is 11% above the 9 events New Zealand averages per month across the 21 months on record.