M 5.8 in New Zealand on 05 May 2026 08:00 UTC

Hazard models

Rapid Impact
Shakemap
Tsunami

Event summary

This earthquake is expected to have a low humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

Earthquake Magnitude: 5.8M
Depth: 10 Km
Lat/Lon: -36.7452 , 177.2617
Event Date: 05 May 2026 08:00 UTC
05 May 2026 20:00 Local
Exposed Population: 70 thousand in MMI IV
Source: NEIC us7000sidq
Inserted at: 05 May 2026 08:21 UTC
INFORM Coping capacity of the alert score: 1.1 (New Zealand)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS score click here.
  Earthquake
(Shakemap)		 GDACS score
NEIC 0 0
us7000sidq Scaled population (raster) 0  
  C1 shakemap 0  
  C2 shakemap 0  
  Country Vulnerability 0  
  INFORM_normalised 0  
  Score no CC 0  
Maximum expected impact using different data sources.

ShakeMap is a product of the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program in conjunction with the regional seismic networks. ShakeMaps provide near-real-time maps of ground motion and shaking intensity following significant earthquakes.


Episode Timeline

IDLevelScoreDateMag, DepthMMI*Population**Tsunami risk***Delay (hh:mm)Source
1704068 0 05 May 2026 08:00 5.8M, 10km 3.75 N/A (in MMI>=VII) 00:20 NEIC
The episode that generated the alert; the next major evaluations beyond 12 hours will not trigger additional alerts.
The episode that has the last updated information.
* The max MMI detected for sources having shakemaps;
** The population detected in MMI>=7 for episode with shakemap or in a 100km radius;
*** The tsunami max height.

Exposed population

The earthquake happened in New Zealand ,of Bay of Plenty (population -99,999) . The alertlevel for this event is GREEN

Intensity Population
no people


Shakemaps Timeline

LevelShake id #ScoreepisodeidLat/LonMagnitudeDepthMax MMIDate shake (UTC)Delay (hh:mm) 
1 0 1704068 177.262/-36.745 5.8 10 3.748 05 May 2026 08:27 00:27 (new episode)
2 0 1704068 177.262/-36.745 5.8 10 3.733 05 May 2026 10:28 02:27 (upd of #1)
3 0 1704068 177.262/-36.745 5.8 10 3.748 06 May 2026 14:01 1d 06:00 (upd of #2)

Affected Provinces

Intensity Region Province Country Population
Bay of Plenty New Zealand 35000 people
East Cape New Zealand <1000 people
Waikato New Zealand 6000 people
Bay of Plenty New Zealand <1000 people
East Cape New Zealand 1200 people
Waikato New Zealand 8600 people
Auckland New Zealand 5700 people
Wanganui-Manawatu New Zealand no people

Affected populated places. Areas of interest

Intensity Name Region Province Country City class Population Distance
Thornton Bay of Plenty New Zealand Village - 135 km
Opotiki Bay of Plenty New Zealand Village 4000 people 140 km
Whitianga Waikato New Zealand Village 3300 people 140 km
Waitakaruru Waikato New Zealand Village - 176 km
Tuparoa Gisborne New Zealand Village - 164 km
Motu Gisborne New Zealand Village - 170 km
Cowes Bay Auckland New Zealand Village - 189 km
Waitermu Waikato New Zealand Village - 194 km
Paparimu Auckland New Zealand Village - 195 km
Guthrie Waikato New Zealand Village - 197 km
Paparata Valley Waikato New Zealand Village - 198 km
Te Karaka Gisborne New Zealand Village <1000 people 198 km
Ngakuru Waikato New Zealand Village - 199 km
Tolaga Bay Gisborne New Zealand Village <1000 people 202 km
Rotowaro Waikato New Zealand Village - 214 km

see full list


Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

Airports

Intensity Name IATA Code Elevation (m) Usage Runway type IFR Runway Length (ft) Distance
Whakatane WHK 6 Civ. Paved Yes 4100 134 km
Tauranga TRG 4 Civ. Paved Yes 4200 140 km
Whitianga WTZ 4 Priv. Unpaved Yes 3800 140 km
Opotiki 8 Civ. Unpaved No 3400 142 km
Great Barrier GBZ 6 Civ. Unpaved No 3000 170 km

Dams

Intensity Reservoir Dam Name River Year Distance
Upper Mangatawhiri Mangatawhiri 1965 191 km
Hays Creek Hays 1964 203 km

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.