January 14, 1976 Tsunami: Kermadec Islands, New Zealand
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake began at Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on January 14, 1976 at 16:47:33 UTC. The water rose as high as 0.9 meters. Its effects were recorded at 18 places in at least 8 countries.
Where the waves reached
The source (white) and every runup with a place, colored by the water height recorded there. A ring is a runup NCEI marks doubtful.
- Under 1 m
- 1 to 3 m
- 3 to 10 m
- 10 to 30 m
- 30 m and more
- Height not recorded
The tsunami
- Date
- January 14, 1976, 16:47:33 UTC
- Source
- Kermadec Islands, New Zealand
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 7.9, 15 km deep
- Maximum water height
- 0.9 m (3.0 ft)
- Runups recorded
- 18
- Tsunami magnitude (Iida)
- -0.1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Definite tsunami
- Source location
- 29.190° S, 177.443° W
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this tsunami.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
A series of strong earthquakes occurred in early 1976 near the Kermadec Islands north of New Zealand. The strongest of these earthquakes occurred on Jan. 14 at 15 56 and 16 47 UTC.
The second of these earthquakes (Jan. 14 at 16 47 UTC) caused a tsunami which was recorded as far away as the Hawaiian Islands.
The Australian Domestic Service reported a 90 cm tsunami reached southern Fiji. (reference #417)
Honolulu Observatory issued a Tsunami Watch.
Every runup
Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.
| Where | Country | Km from source | Water height, m | Inland, m | Measured by | First wave, UTC | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tutukaka | New Zealand | 1,038 | 0.75 | Eyewitness observation of water height | day 14, 19:40 | ||
| Whangarei | New Zealand | 1,060 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Mount Maunganui | New Zealand | 1,107 | 0.2 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Auckland | New Zealand | 1,117 | 0.1 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Suva, King'S Wharf | Fiji | 1,295 | 0.23 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Southern Fiji | Fiji | 1,295 | 0.9 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Pago Pago, American Samoa, AS | US Territories | 1,792 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | ||||
| Apia, Upolu Island | Samoa | 1,799 | 0.07 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Lord Howe I. | Australia | 2,269 | 0.3 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Fort Denison, Sydney Harbor | Australia | 3,008 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | ||||
| Honolulu, Oahu, HI, HI | United States | 5,969 | 0.03 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Kahului, Maui, HI, HI | United States | 5,981 | 0.15 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Cabo San Lucas | Mexico | 9,247 | 0.08 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Manzanillo | Mexico | 9,488 | 0.21 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Puerto Vallarta | Mexico | 9,505 | 0.14 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Acapulco | Mexico | 9,755 | 0.24 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Salina Cruz | Mexico | 10,150 | 0.18 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Quepos | Costa Rica | 10,835 | 0.05 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) |
More
Every tsunami in 1976The 1900sTsunamis of New ZealandThe earthquakeThis day in weather historyAlerts in force
Sources
Tsunami events and runups 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 tsunami event 2083.