Abstract <p>The characteristics of ring-shaped seismicity structures being formed in the subduction zone of New Zealand are considered. Ring-shaped structures in the depth ranges of 0–33, 34–70, and 71–110 km with threshold magnitudes of 5.1, 5.0, and 4.6, respectively, are identified. By analogy with previously obtained data for subduction zones in the west and east of the Pacific Ocean, it is supposed that formation of ring-shaped structures testyfies to preparation of a large earthquake. Using correlation dependences of threshold magnitude values on energy of large and great earthquakes in the west of the Pacific ocean allows one to estimate the magnitude of an upcoming event in the subduction zone of New Zealand: <i>M</i>_<i>w</i> = 8.4 ± 0.2. Analysis of literature data shows that geological and geophysical characteristics of the subduction zones in the regions of northeastern Japan and the North Island of New Zealand have similar features. At the same time, the obtained predictive estimate of the magnitude of the possible large event in the region of New Zealand is essentially lower than the magnitude of the Great Tohoku Earthquake on March 11, 2011 (<i>M</i>_<i>w</i> = 9.0), occurred to the east of the Honshu Island. Proceeding from the relationship between the threshold magnitudes at different depths, a conclusion is made about a higher probability of preparation of a relatively shallow large earthquake in the region of New Zealand.</p>