The 2016 Kaikoura earthquake was a magnitude 7.8 (M) earthquake in the South Island of New Zealand. It happened two minutes after midnight on 14 November 2016 NZDT (11:02 on 13 November UTC). The epicentre where shaking started was about north-east of Culverden and south-west of the tourist town of Kaikoura. The epicentre was about 15 kilometres deep (9 mi).