A series of earthquakes struck off the Bay of Plenty on May 5, 2026. The first quake was a magnitude 5.6, felt by nearly 2000 people across Auckland, Waikato, Coromandel, and Bay of Plenty.
The first earthquake occurred at about 8pm, located 135km north of Te Kaha. It registered at a depth of 5km. GeoNet reported over 2000 felt reports for this quake. Most observers rated the shaking as ‘weak’ or ‘light’.
A second earthquake followed at 8:05pm, measuring 4.2 in magnitude and occurring at a depth of 33km. This quake was felt by 1,083 people.
The third earthquake registered at 2.7, occurring at 8:28pm. Only 86 people reported feeling this tremor.
The location of these earthquakes was described as off the Bay of Plenty. Weak shaking might have been felt in Te Kaha as well.
GeoNet continues to monitor the situation and provide updates on earthquake activity in the region. Further analysis may clarify the impact and ongoing risks associated with these seismic events.
