Key facts
- A magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred near Te Anau, New Zealand.
- A tsunami warning was issued by authorities.
- The earthquake's epicenter was approximately 40 km north of Te Anau.
- The USGS and GFZ reported a magnitude 5.9 earthquake at a depth of over 50 km.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 struck near the town of Te Anau on New Zealand's South Island, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning. The epicenter was located approximately 40 kilometers (24.85 miles) north of Te Anau, which serves as a gateway to the popular tourist destination of Fiordland. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported the earthquake as having a magnitude of 5.9 and a depth of over 50 kilometers.
While this report focuses on the recent event, New Zealand has a history of significant seismic activity. The 2011 Christchurch earthquake, a 6.2-magnitude intraplate earthquake, caused widespread damage and resulted in 185 fatalities. Its shallow depth and proximity to the city center, coupled with pre-existing damage from a previous quake, contributed to its severity. Another strong earthquake, registered as M6.3 by the USGS, occurred near the southern coast of South Island on July 7, 2025, with an epicenter depth of 10 km.