Kaikoura: the filmed lights off New Zealand's east coast
In late December 1978, crews of Safe Air Argosy freight aircraft flying between Wellington, Blenheim and Christchurch reported lights off the Kaikoura coast. Wellington air traffic control radar and the aircraft's own weather radar showed unexplained targets. On 30-31 December, an Australian TV crew (reporter Quentin Fogarty, cameraman David Crockett, sound recordist Ngaire Crockett) flew with Capt. Bill Startup and First Officer Robert Guard to re-create the earlier flights. They filmed bright lights, some of which matched radar returns. The footage went around the world. The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) opened file AIR 1080/6/897. The Defence Department and the DSIR (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research) concluded that the main sightings were Venus seen through a disturbed atmosphere, squid-boat lights, and radar anomalies. Their own reports concede some exceptions. The DSIR placed Startup's main sighting about 10 minutes before Venus should have risen. The RNZAF Director of Operations wrote that for some sightings "no explanation can be offered". The released file is a strong primary record. The explanation it gives is partly demonstrated and partly assumed.
Evidence, in date order (4)
- Dec 1978Wellington ATC radarsensor datatargets matching the lights seen from the aircraft RNZAF AIR 1080/6/897 Vol. 1 (mirror)
- 21 Dec 1978Capt. Vern Powell and Capt. John Randlewitnesssaw lights matching Wellington radar on 21 December RNZAF AIR 1080/6/897 Vol. 1 (mirror)
- 31 Dec 1978TV crew (Fogarty, David and Ngaire Crockett) and Dennis Grantwitnessfilmed the lights and gave statements RNZAF AIR 1080/6/897 Vol. 1 (mirror)
- 11 Jan 1979RNZAF Director of Operationsofficialwrote that for some sightings no explanation can be offered RNZAF AIR 1080/6/897 Vol. 1 (mirror)
How plausible · High
Named pilots, ground and airborne radar, film, and an RNZAF file leaving some sightings unexplained.
- ●●Access Direct observation or instruments.
- ●●No gain sought Nothing to gain.
- ●●Character record Trained professionals.
- ●●Independent convergence Independent sources agree.
- ●●Checkable details check out Released official records.
- ●●Physical traces or official reaction Instrument data or physical traces.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-23.
On the record
- DOPS report, 11 January 1979 (official; Clements): Para 23: Startup's sighting was at about 0225, while "Venus did not rise until about 0328". The DSIR suggested super-refraction, and the report refers to a "troublesome layer". The radar return was "most probably … spurious or of a ship". Para 26: orange lights near Nelson Bay: "No explanation can be offered". Para 29h: "Almost all the sightings can be explained by natural but unusual phenomena. The few for which the evidence to date in [sic] inconclusive may well be explained in due course".
- DSIR interim report, 12 January 1979 (official; Collins): Startup's sighting shortly after 0230 was "some 10 minutes before Venus should rise". Its appearance was "classic for that of a planet substantially refracted". Using the reflection on the sea, the object was at least 100 km away. Exceptions it noted: Powell's pulsating light of 20/21 December, with on-board radar contact, at about 15,000 km/h, which it speculated might be a meteorite; and a radar target on Startup's aircraft radar keeping station at about 16 km, attributed to a possible atmospheric mirror reflection. Conclusion: "major sightings are consistent with observations of the planet Venus through a disturbed atmosphere".
- PEL film analysis (McDonnell and Fowler): the restored image of the Clarence River TV1 film segment is consistent with Venus.
- Defence News Release (official): it attributes the sightings to "natural but unusual atmospheric phenomena", Venus, and squid boats (50+ boats, each with about 200 kW of lights). The Ministry "totally discounts the possibility of visits… of alien aircraft".
- Dennis Grant statement (firsthand witness, TV One). At 2.18, First Officer Guard pointed out the object. Startup's radar showed it as close as 10 miles. Grant saw its reflection on the ocean.
- Startup interview summary (firsthand, as recorded by the RNZAF, pp. 172-173). Read; it records radar and visual contacts consistent with the crew's public account.