File 40618 · December 30-31, 1978
Kaikoura Lights Radar-Visual Encounter
Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand
Opened 9/12/2026
Sighting photograph. Still from the 16mm film shot by the TV crew showing one of the bright objects — RNZAF Declassified Files
Standing
Unidentified
On the public record, and still open. A claim, paper, or film — not a finding that it was ours, and not a finding that it was not.
RNZAF investigation report noting unusual radar targets and visual corroboration.
What was claimed
Aircrew, passengers, and air traffic controllers observed and filmed bright lights maneuvering near an aircraft; confirmed by Wellington radar and RNZAF investigation.
What is on the record
This file is a working record — a report, not a verdict. Official paper, if any, is linked where we have it.
During a late-night newspaper run on December 30-31, 1978, the crew of a Safe Air Argosy freighter including pilot Bill Startup, co-pilot Bob Guard, reporter Quentin Fogarty, and a TV film crew observed multiple bright pulsating lights that paced their aircraft, appearing and disappearing, changing size and brightness. One large bright white/orange light with a red tinge seemed to follow the plane, moving above, below, and in front. The objects were tracked on the aircraft's radar and by Wellington air traffic control on ground radar. Cameraman David Crockett filmed the lights in color on 16mm film. Earlier sightings on December 21 involved similar lights tracked on radar. The RNZAF investigated the files, which were later declassified; the film and radar data remain among the strongest documented radar-visual UFO cases. Skeptics suggested squid boats or Venus but the official records left them unexplained.
Could this have been ours?
The known sky, that night.
Satellites were already up. The station was not. Starlink was not.
Always
Venus and the bright planets
A fixed brilliant point. Does not streak. Does not hover over a street then leave. Often the first misread light in a rural report.
Always
Aircraft, balloons, meteors
Landing lights, flares, lanterns, reentries, fireballs. They are on the known sky. They do not close a file by themselves — they are what a serious look has to hold the claim against.
Orbit · Space — the desks for lights that are already named.
Sources
Related files
Same craft, same place, same years. A neighbor in the catalogue — not a conclusion.
Same craft · Same place · Same year · 21–31 December 1978
Kaikoura lights, New Zealand
Kaikoura, South Island · New Zealand
Unidentified
A TV crew on an Argosy freighter filmed lights off Kaikoura. Radar, pilots, and Wellington air traffic were all in the loop.
Same craft · Same years · 11 November 1979
Manises, Spain
Manises / Valencia · Spain
Unidentified
A commercial flight diverted to Manises after the crew reported red lights that paced the airliner. F-1 fighters were scrambled.
Same craft · Same years · 27 August 1979
Val Johnson, Minnesota
Marshall County, Minnesota · United States
Unidentified
A deputy’s patrol car was damaged and the officer injured after he reported a blinding light on a rural road. State police documented the car.
Same craft · Same years · 20 September 1977
Petrozavodsk phenomenon
Petrozavodsk, Karelia · Russia
Identified
A glowing object that showered the city with luminous “jets” was seen across northwest Russia and Finland. TASS printed it as news.
Same craft · Same years · 1977
Colares, Operation Saucer
Colares, Pará · Brazil
Unidentified
An Amazon island town reported beams of light that burned skin. The Brazilian Air Force sent a team, filmed objects, and later classified the file.
Same craft · Same years · 19 September 1976
Tehran intercept
Tehran · Iran
Unidentified
Iranian F-4s scrambled after a brilliant object over the city. Avionics and weapons failed on approach. A Defense Intelligence report called the case outstanding.