Quick Info
In December 1978, bright pulsating lights paced a Safe Air cargo plane over New Zealand’s rugged Kaikoura coast. The objects were seen by pilots, tracked on multiple radars, and filmed in colour by an Australian TV crew. Radar returns the size of a two-storey building appeared and disappeared, sometimes pacing the aircraft for dozens of kilometres. One of the most thoroughly documented radar plus visual plus film UFO cases in history.
The sightings happened on two separate nights during what became a media sensation. The 30–31 December flight produced 16mm colour footage that still stands as some of the clearest UFO film ever captured from an aircraft.
Background to the 1978 New Zealand UFO Wave
Late December 1978 was already buzzing with UFO reports across New Zealand. People along the South Island’s east coast had been seeing strange lights for weeks. The story exploded when professional pilots and air traffic controllers began confirming the sightings on radar and visually.
The First Sightings – 21 December 1978
On the night of 21 December, pilots Vern Powell and Ian Pirie were flying a Safe Air Ltd Argosy cargo plane from Blenheim to Christchurch. Air traffic control in Wellington contacted them about unusual radar returns near Kaikoura. Moments later the pilots spotted bright lights off the port side that appeared to follow their aircraft. The objects were also picked up on the plane’s own radar and by controllers in Wellington.
“We saw a bright light that changed colour from red to white. It stayed with us for about twelve miles before it disappeared and then reappeared.”
— Captain Vern Powell
The lights performed unusual manoeuvres and at one point a large return appeared stationary behind the plane before moving alongside it. Ground witnesses near Clarence Bridge and Kekerengu also reported the same lights that night.
The Historic Flight – 30th/31st December 1978
Ten days later an Australian television crew from Channel 0 in Melbourne joined another Safe Air Argosy flight specifically hoping to capture the phenomenon. Reporter Quentin Fogarty, cameraman David Crockett, sound recordist Ngaire Crockett, and pilots Captain Bill Startup and First Officer Bob Guard made up the group. Then history happened...
Radar Confirmation from Multiple Stations
As the plane approached Kaikoura, Wellington air traffic controllers reported multiple unidentified targets on their scopes. Some returns were estimated to be the size of a two-storey building. Christchurch radar and the aircraft’s own radar also picked up the objects. One large target paced the Argosy for over 60 kilometres, sometimes appearing directly above, below, or alongside the plane.
“We had targets on radar that were not normal aircraft returns. They were very strong and they were moving with us.”
— Wellington Air Traffic Controller
The controllers confirmed there were no other aircraft or known objects in the area.
The Live Filming and Commentary
While filming a piece-to-camera, the crew was suddenly called to the flight deck. Bright lights appeared outside the aircraft. David Crockett began rolling 16mm colour film as the lights performed figure-eight patterns and brightened and dimmed. Quentin Fogarty’s live commentary captured the tension perfectly.
“Let’s hope they’re friendly.”
— Quentin Fogarty on the flight deck
The footage shows glowing orbs that changed shape and intensity. The objects appeared to orbit the plane and then shot off at high speed. The entire sequence was captured on tape and film while radar continued to track the same objects.
Ground Witnesses Along the Coast
People living near the Kaikoura coast and Clarence River reported seeing the same bright lights hovering and moving in formation on both nights. Their descriptions matched exactly what the air crew and radar operators were seeing at the same time.
The Official Investigation
The Royal New Zealand Air Force, police, and Carter Observatory launched a joint investigation. A P-3 Orion reconnaissance aircraft was sent into the area on several occasions. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) examined the film and radar data. Declassified government documents released years later show officials struggled to explain the strongest parts of the evidence. The case was so well documented that the CIA even took notice of the volume of radar, visual, and film records.
Skeptical Explanations and the Ongoing Debate
Some scientists suggested the lights were reflections from Japanese squid boats (not sure I've heard of fishing boats being picked up in the air by Radar...), the planet Venus, or unusual atmospheric effects. The DSIR later proposed squid boat lights refracted through clouds. However, the radar returns, the manoeuvres, the altitude of the objects, and the fact that the lights appeared on three separate radar systems have never been fully explained by these theories. Many of the original witnesses, including the pilots, still maintain that what they saw was not conventional.
Timeline of the Kaikoura Lights
- Evening of 21st December 1978 – Pilots Powell and Pirie spot lights near Kaikoura; confirmed on Wellington and aircraft radar.
- After midnight on 30th–31st December 1978 – Australian TV crew joins Argosy flight; multiple radar contacts and live filming occur.
- During the flight – Bright lights pace the plane, perform manoeuvres, and are captured on 16mm film.
- Early January 1979 – RNZAF sends P-3 Orion; official investigation begins.
- Between 1979–1981 – DSIR and government reports filed; documents later declassified.
Why the Kaikoura Lights Remain One of the Strongest Cases
What makes this event stand out is the combination of multiple independent radars, professional pilots, a film crew with broadcast-quality footage, ground witnesses, and an official investigation that could not dismiss the strongest evidence. The 16mm colour film is still regarded as some of the clearest UFO footage ever captured from an aircraft. Even decades later, the case continues to be studied because of the sheer amount of corroborating data.
Great video on this event from @EyesOnCinema on YouTube
More videos from @EyesOnCinema on YouTube
What Do You Think?
After reading about the radar returns, watching the video above, the live film footage, and the pilots’ accounts from the Kaikoura Lights, what’s your gut reaction? Do you think these were something truly unexplained, or could there be a conventional explanation that fits all the data? Why do you think the objects seemed to interact with the plane?
Personally I think this is one of the most remarkable events captured on camera to date. Also, Japanese fishing boats... in the air... picked up by Radar... ok it was their lights... picked up by Radar... what? This remains one of New Zealand’s, if not the World's, most famous and best-documented UFO events, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.
