Regional Map Focus
Open the earthquake layer near New Zealand; the feed is not limited to a local boundary.
Catalog Fields
Magnitude, depth and location may appear when a source reports them.
Revisions
Public event estimates can change as agencies review additional data.
Coverage
Monitoring and reporting thresholds differ by place; gaps are possible.
Seismic Activity in New Zealand
New Zealand straddles the boundary between the Pacific and Australian plates. The 2011 Christchurch earthquake caused significant destruction.
The map button opens PocketWorld's earthquake layer near New Zealand. This is a geographic starting point, not a complete or boundary-filtered catalogue; the available feed may include events from a wider area.
Interpreting magnitude and depth
Magnitude estimates an earthquake's size, while depth describes how far below the surface it began. Neither value alone tells you the shaking or damage at a specific address: distance, local ground and building conditions matter. Reported values and uncertainty can differ between events and contributing networks.
Sources, coverage and safety
PocketWorld displays public USGS and EMSC event records when available. Catalogues can omit smaller earthquakes, and preliminary locations or magnitudes may change after review. Check the source timestamp and freshness in the map; a retained snapshot may appear during an upstream interruption. If you live in New Zealand, use local geological and emergency-authority guidance. This page is not an alert or safety service.
Hazard data sources
Events are aggregated from USGS, EMSC, NOAA, NASA EONET, NASA FIRMS and GDACS, then normalized and deduplicated.
Frequently asked questions
Does this page show every earthquake in New Zealand?
No. The map focuses near New Zealand, but public catalogues have uneven coverage and can include events beyond the region.
When is the earthquake data updated?
There is no fixed interval. Check provider timestamps; a retained snapshot may be used during an upstream outage.
Can magnitude alone show local impact?
No. Distance, depth, ground and buildings affect shaking and damage. Use official event assessments and local guidance.