January 20, 2014 Earthquake: Wellington, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Wellington, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand on January 20, 2014 at 02:52:44 UTC, 28 km below the surface.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- January 20, 2014
- Time
- 02:52:44 UTC
- Place
- Wellington, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand
- Magnitude
- 6.1 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 28 km (17 mi)
- Intensity
- 7 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 40.660° S, 175.814° E
- Country
- New Zealand
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
- Houses damaged
- Few (about 1 to 50)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
Light damage at Eketahuna, Masterton, Palmerston North and Rangitumau. Utilities disrupted and minor landslides occurred in parts of Manawatu-Wanganui, Taranaki and Wellington. Felt (VII) at Palmerston North, (V) at Wellington and (IV) at Ohariu and Porirua. Felt as far as Auckland, Napier, Rahotu and Rotorua on the North Island and as far as Invercargill and Outram on the South Island. A seiche was observed in a swimming pool at Masterton. (reference #13456)
An eagle sculpture with a 45-foot wingspan was sent sprawling to the floor at Wellington Airport in New Zealand after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit the country... Other than the eagle sculpture, there are no reports of major damage or injuries in the area, although there was some minor damage to homes. Apparently the quake did trigger some rock slides and closed some roads in the area. (reference #10856)
A 6.2 quake rattled the area in January, prompting more than 400 claims to the Earthquake Commission after damaging buildings. (reference #11007)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- February 2, 1931, Hawke Bay, New Zealand
- October 18, 1848, Awatere River, Marlborough, New Zealand
- March 5, 1934, North Island, New Zealand
- May 13, 1990, Dannevirke, Wellington, New Zealand
- September 8, 1991, Wellington, Wanganui, New Zealand
- January 20, 2005, North Island, New Zealand
- September 6, 2010, Porangahau, North Island, New Zealand
- January 23, 1855, Wellington,waiouru,wanganui,otaki, New Zealand
- August 8, 1904, E of North Island, New Zealand
- July 5, 1845, N. New Zealand
- July 8, 1843, Wanganui, New Zealand
- October 15, 1848, Northern New Zealand
- February 21, 1973, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
- October 5, 1980, Gisborne, Hawera, Eastbourne, Napier, New Zealand
- August 25, 2008, North Island, New Zealand
More
Significant earthquakes of 2014The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2014Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 10067.