M5.0 earthquake near Whanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui

What happened

A magnitude 5 earthquake struck 16 km SE of Patea, New Zealand on 8 Jan 2026, 19:29 UTC at a depth of 123 km.

Earthquakes of this size are classed as Moderate. Can damage poorly built structures close to the epicentre. This was an intermediate-depth earthquake, so shaking is spread over a wider, gentler area.

The nearest town in our records is Whanganui, about 38 km away in Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand.