Shallow M5.8 earthquake hits northeast of Pauanui, New Zealand

An earthquake measuring M5.8 was recorded at 08:00 UTC on May 5, 2026, about 127 km (79 miles) northeast of Pauanui, New Zealand. The event was registered at a shallow depth of 10.0 km (6.2 miles), according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The coordinates of the earthquake, 177.3°E and 36.7°S, place the epicenter offshore, northeast of the Coromandel Peninsula on New Zealand’s North Island, in a region of regular seismic activity. There are no large population centers at the epicenter, but the area falls within the broader influence of the upper North Island, which includes several towns and small communities.

Given the offshore location, critical infrastructure in the vicinity could include maritime routes, fisheries, and transport corridors along the coast of the North Island. Major inland infrastructure appears unaffected due to the distance from population centers.

There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.

The maximum estimated intensity for this event is IV, and the significance index is 518 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), reflecting its moderate magnitude and offshore location.

New Zealand lies along the tectonically active boundary between the Pacific and Australian plates, a region prone to frequent and sometimes significant seismic events. The Coromandel region and its offshore areas are part of this broader seismic context.

This information was last updated at 08:26 UTC on May 5, 2026.