All sightings, photographs, drawings and articles are © Ufocus NZ.

The extent of our investigation and analysis of sighting reports is dependent upon the data received, and the length of time elapsed between the sighting event and the receipt of a report.  If applicable, additional comments are made at the bottom of a report.

Date: Friday 25 January 2019

Time: 3 am

Location: Kerikeri, Northland, North Island

Features/characteristics: cluster of lights in arc-shape

Description:

Cloudy night; duration of sighting at least 30 minutes.

The witness observed 5 clusters of lights forming an arc, which remained visible for approximately 30 minutes, at an estimated distance of 3 kms, travelling slowly in a northerly direction from the township of Kerikeri. Some of the clusters were momentarily obscured by passing clouds. The witness was “really frightened” by the sight and stated she normally does not wake at night, but on this occasion she woke unexpectedly and could immediately see the lights through her bedroom window.

Date: Sunday 27 January 2019

Time: 11 pm

Location: Featherston, North Island

Features/characteristics: Large bright gold light

Description:

Clear conditions. Duration of sighting 2 minutes.

The observer saw a large bright gold light above the Rimutaka Hills behind the township in a southerly direction, which appeared “like the Star of Bethlehem”. The light rose in altitude quite quickly, flared, then faded and completely disappeared.

Ufocus NZ comment: This was most likely a lantern which caught a rising air current and burned out (usually within 2 mins and accompanied by a brief flare).

Date: Wednesday 2 January 2019

Time: 10.50 am

Location: Napier/Taupo Highway, North Island

Features/characteristics: daytime sighting of unconventional white flying object

Description:

The witness stated: “I was driving home from visiting White Pine Bush Reserve on the Napier-Wairoa road. It was roughly 10:50 AM. I was driving at about 80 km an hour and had my windows open enjoying the beautiful day. I noticed a plane flying over, then a few kms later as I drove closer to the bridge near the major intersection, I noticed a bright flash in the sky that caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. I looked up and saw an unusual white object.

At first I thought it was a small stationary cloud but wondered, because, it had a slightly ovoid shape with thin edges that didn’t look natural, but which wasn’t actually a typical saucer shape. It was stationary and slightly to my right when I first saw it; it then moved from my right to my left horizontally, until it was slightly over the top of, or in front of the hill near the intersection, perhaps 1 ½ km distant.

As I was driving and it was a windy road this took most of my attention, but then I noticed the object started to move to the left. I kept it in sight as best I could in among the tall trees at the sides of the road. I looked for a place to safely pull over and take a picture, as at this stage it was low enough that I would have been able to catch it clearly on my phone camera. As I watched, it rose slowly into the sky vertically – unlike an aircraft. Then just as I found a place to pull over and I was getting my phone out, it simply vanished in front of my eyes – not like it had gone so high that I couldn’t see it, but it simply vanished (or perhaps accelerated so fast I could not see its ascent).

The thing that really struck me about this is that it appeared totally white like the clouds, not silver, and did not at all appear to be in any hurry, moving in an almost leisurely pace across the sky. It seemed to turn so the shape was more rectangular from the view I had, so I’m not really sure of the actual shape of it. There was no sound whatsoever – completely silent and I did hear the plane previous to that. Also, it seemed to glide through the sky.”

Witness’s photos of the location with Photoshop illustrations and text, below.

Approximate position of first sighting. Roughly this height (above the hill), but roughly this size and shape. Which was why I initially thought it was a cloud.

By the time I reached the bridge, it was approx this shape and height above the hill. But, slightly to the front (at least to my eyes), and moving to the left of the image.

At this point it was partly hidden from my view by the trees. But as soon as I got around the bend, and was able to pull over, I saw it rise vertically into the sky, and then simply vanish!