Earthquake strikes near Levin, tremors felt across New Zealand

A 4.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Levin on Monday (May 5) evening, with tremors felt as far away as Taupō, New Plymouth, and Nelson. The earthquake occurred at 5.16pm local time, with its epicentre approximately 10km northwest of Levin at a depth of 36km.

Some residents reported feeling the shake, others did not notice it. The quake was the strongest measured in New Zealand since last Wednesday (April 30, 2025). The quake on April 30 occurred south of Stewart Island at a depth of 5km. It was recorded at 5.9 on the Richter scale.

GeoNet reported the quake hit 10 km northwest of Levin and at a depth of 36km. The quake was felt as far north as Taupō and New Plymouth, as south in Nelson.


In April, Horowhenua experienced tornadoes that caused damage in Levin and Waikawa Beach. Emergency crews assessed the impact of these tornadoes.

“Please know that we’re here for you and doing everything we can to support our community through the response and recovery," the town Mayor Bernie Wanden said at the time of the tornadoes in April.

Why is New Zealand prone to earthquakes?

New Zealand frequently experiences earthquakes because the country sits on the top of a highly active geological feature - the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates. These plates have been colliding with each other for million of years and generating massive force.

As the plates collide and either grind under, over or alongside each other, the fault lines break apart resulting in earthquakes.

Over 20,000 earthquakes are recorded in New Zealand every year with only about five to 10 per cent of them strong enough to be felt by humans.