Earthquakes in New Zealand — July 2026

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

14 reached magnitude 4 or above and 4 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 52 km.

The month's largest event in New Zealand was a magnitude 5.9 earthquake near Te Anau, New Zealand on 16 July 2026 at 09:14 UTC. A magnitude 5.9 earthquake radiates roughly 10,676 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 10 recorded the previous month.

79% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 21% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). The mix is dominated by shallow crustal events, with a minority of intermediate-depth activity.

By band, the catalogue holds 10 in the magnitude 4 range, 4 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 22 July, when 3 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.9 near Te Anau, New Zealand on 16 July at 76 km; M5.7 near Turangi, New Zealand on 24 July at 10 km; M5.0 near Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on 22 July at 47 km.

That is 56% above the 9 events New Zealand averages per month across the 21 months on record.