Earthquakes in New Zealand — May 2026

16 earthquakes were recorded in New Zealand during May 2026, an average of 0.5 per day.

16 reached magnitude 4 or above and 2 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 78 km.

The month's largest event in New Zealand was a magnitude 5.8 earthquake near Pauanui, New Zealand on 05 May 2026 at 08:00 UTC. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake radiates roughly 7,558 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is well above the New Zealand monthly average of 9 events over the period we cover — an unusually active month, and up from the 6 recorded the previous month.

69% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 31% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). A substantial share of intermediate-depth events points to a subducting slab beneath the region rather than purely crustal faulting.

By band, the catalogue holds 14 in the magnitude 4 range, 2 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 05 May, when 3 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.8 near Pauanui, New Zealand on 05 May at 10 km; M5.1 near Hicks Bay, New Zealand on 02 May at 35 km; M4.9 near Hicks Bay, New Zealand on 05 May at 10 km.

That is 77% above the 9 events New Zealand averages per month across the 21 months on record.