The Kaikoura Lights

On December 31, 1978, a television film crew aboard a cargo aircraft captured remarkable footage of unidentified luminous objects over the Kaikoura coast of New Zealand. The objects were simultaneously tracked on radar, creating one of the best-documented UFO cases combining visual, filmed, and radar evidence.

Background

In late December 1978, pilots flying the Wellington-Christchurch route began reporting unusual lights over the Kaikoura mountain ranges. The reports attracted media attention, and Australian television reporter Quentin Fogarty arranged to fly the route with a film crew.

The Flight

On the night of December 30-31, Fogarty and cameraman David Crockett joined the crew of an Argosy freight aircraft for a routine cargo run. They hoped to observe the lights pilots had been reporting.

They got more than they expected.

The Encounter

Multiple luminous objects appeared around the aircraft throughout the flight:

• Bright, spherical lights of varying sizes
• Objects that paced the aircraft
• Lights that changed color and intensity
• Objects tracked on Wellington radar
• Maneuvers impossible for conventional aircraft

Crockett filmed approximately 23 minutes of footage showing the lights.

Radar Confirmation

Wellington Air Traffic Control tracked unidentified targets that corresponded with the visual sightings. Controllers confirmed objects appearing and disappearing from radar in locations matching what the crew observed visually.

The radar returns suggested solid objects, not atmospheric phenomena.

The Footage

The film showed:

• Luminous spheres of various sizes
• Objects moving relative to the aircraft
• Lights changing intensity
• Clear structure in some frames

The footage was broadcast worldwide and remains among the most compelling UFO film evidence.

Investigation

The Royal New Zealand Air Force investigated without reaching definitive conclusions. Various explanations were proposed:

Venus/Jupiter: The planets were bright that night, but pilots are familiar with planetary appearances and the objects moved in ways planets cannot.

Squid Boat Lights: Fishing vessels use bright lights, but these don’t explain radar returns or objects at altitude.

Unburned Meteors: Proposed but rejected due to duration and movement patterns.

Unknown Phenomenon: The official position remained that the sightings couldn’t be explained conventionally.

Witness Credibility

The witnesses included:

• Experienced commercial pilots
• Professional journalists
• Television cameraman
• Air traffic controllers

Their combined testimony, supported by film and radar evidence, created a compelling case.

Analysis

Dr. Bruce Maccabee conducted extensive analysis of the Kaikoura footage, examining frame-by-frame details and correlating with radar data. He concluded the objects were genuine unknowns at significant distances from the aircraft.

Legacy

The Kaikoura Lights represent an ideal UFO case:

• Multiple credible witnesses
• Film documentation
• Radar confirmation
• Official investigation
• No satisfactory conventional explanation

The combination of evidence types makes Kaikoura one of the strongest UFO cases on record, demonstrating that some aerial phenomena resist explanation despite extensive documentation.