A moderate earthquake of magnitude 4.6 rolled across a remote marine area about 95 km northeast of New Plymouth in Taranaki on Tuesday morning, alerting Kiwis to the region’s persistent seismic activity.
What Happened & Where
At 7:51 am NZDT on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, a quake measuring magnitude 4.6 occurred roughly 95 km northeast of New Plymouth at a depth of around 217.5 km.
The quake’s focus was in the upper mantle region beneath the Pacific plate-Australasian plate boundary zone—relatively deep compared with shallow crustal quakes.
Why Depth Matters
Because this quake struck at a depth of over 200 km, the shaking felt at surface locations would likely be weaker than for shallow events of the same magnitude. Deep quakes tend to spread energy over larger areas but cause less intense local shaking.
No tsunami warning was issued, consistent with deeper or offshore seismic events.
What This Means for Locals
For residents of Taranaki and nearby regions:
- Feeling a tremor doesn’t necessarily mean danger—depth plays a big role in impact.
- Yet the event serves as a reminder that New Zealand lies on active tectonic zones and preparedness matters.
- Homeowners, renters and businesses should continue to review seismic-safe measures, such as securing heavy furniture and checking insurance.
Stay Informed & Prepared
For further updates on seismic activity, monitoring and alerts, visit the GeoNet website or download their app.
Consider keeping an emergency pack ready and reviewing your building’s seismic resilience if you’re in a higher-risk area.
