Earthquake.now

M6.7 Earthquake near Riverton, New Zealand — 25 March 2025

A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.7 was recorded near Riverton, New Zealand on , with an epicentre 164 km west-southwest of Riverton, at a focal depth of 21.0 km. It was the strongest of the 11 earthquakes recorded in New Zealand in the preceding 30 days.

6.7 Strong

Time (UTC): 2025-03-25 01:43:12

Time (your timezone): —

Magnitude: 6.7 (strong)

Focal depth: 21.0 km (shallow)

Epicentre: -46.7080, 165.9330

Location: 164 km WSW of Riverton, New Zealand

Country: New Zealand

USGS link to NOAA tsunami information: Available

Review status: Reviewed

Source: USGS event page

How strong was this earthquake?

Strong earthquakes can cause significant damage in populated areas within roughly 100 km of the epicentre, particularly to older masonry buildings. Landslides and liquefaction become a real risk in susceptible ground.

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake radiates roughly 169,203 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

The USGS assigns this earthquake a significance score of 722, which meets the USGS threshold of more than 600 for its significant-earthquake list. The ranking combines magnitude with available Did You Feel It responses and PAGER alert level; it is not a direct measurement of damage.

What the magnitude scale actually measures →

When it happened locally

That is about 12:46 local solar time at the epicentre, around midday.

This event was shallower than 66% of the 197 earthquakes recorded in New Zealand in our catalogue and stronger than 99% of them.

Where was the epicentre?

The epicentre was located at -46.7080, 165.9330 — 164 km west-southwest of Riverton. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 4.9 earthquake 3 km south-southeast of here on 25 March 2025.

The nearest other settlements in our records are Te Anau (71 km north-northwest), Bluff (176 km south-southwest) and Fiordland Community (209 km north-northeast).

Why the 21 km depth matters

At 21 km this was a shallow earthquake. Shallow events release their energy close to the surface, so for a given magnitude they produce noticeably stronger shaking — and more damage — than deeper ones. Roughly three quarters of all earthquakes worldwide occur at shallow depths.

This catalogue does not ingest eyewitness responses, so it cannot confirm where this earthquake was felt. Based on magnitude alone, an event this size can produce strong, widely felt shaking. Its shallow focus makes stronger surface shaking more likely than for a deeper event of the same magnitude.

Read more on how focal depth changes what you feel →

What does the tsunami information flag mean?

The USGS event record links to NOAA tsunami information because this was a large event in an oceanic region. That link flag does not mean a tsunami occurred or that a warning is active. Check tsunami.gov and instructions from your local authority for the current status of your coastline.

How earthquakes generate tsunamis, and what the alert levels mean →

Aftershocks and local seismic history

3 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 7.0.

25 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 7.0 event near Riverton on 25 March 2025. This M6.7 event released about 2.8 times less energy than that event.

1 earthquakes have been recorded within 100 km of this epicentre in the past year, 0 of them in the past 30 days.

How long aftershock sequences last, and how large they get →

Where this event sits in the record

This earthquake is part of the March 2025 worldwide record, and of earthquakes in New Zealand during March 2025. Browse the full monthly archive to compare periods.

Nearest recorded earthquakes to this epicentre

Other recent earthquakes in New Zealand

All recorded earthquakes in New Zealand →

Other magnitude 6 earthquakes worldwide

All magnitude 6 earthquakes →

Questions about this earthquake

How strong was the earthquake near Riverton?

It measured magnitude 6.7 — a strong earthquake. A magnitude 6.7 earthquake radiates roughly 169,203 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

How deep was the earthquake near Riverton?

The focus was 21 km below the surface, which counts as shallow.

Was the Riverton earthquake felt at the surface?

At magnitude 6.7 and a focal depth of 21 km, shaking would have been concentrated near the epicentre.

When did the earthquake near Riverton happen?

25 March 2025 at 01:43 UTC.

Was there a tsunami?

The USGS record carries a link to NOAA tsunami information for this event. That is not a warning: check your regional tsunami warning centre for any live alert.

Have there been aftershocks?

3 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 7.0.

How often do earthquakes happen near Riverton?

25 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 7.0 event near Riverton on 25 March 2025. This M6.7 event released about 2.8 times less energy than that event.