The devastation in New Zealand and Chatham Islands after a meteor airburst

2024, December 1. Pacific Ocean, east of New Zealand. Airburst. Coordinates: (-42.7, -172.4). Time: 08:50. e = 13. -e = 0.38 or 380,000 kg/TNT.  

2024, December 2. New Zealand, Golden Bay, Cook Strait. A total of 37 long-finned pilot whales were stranded at one location. 18 whales died and 19 refloated. Eventually after five days and the fifth time stranding the pod swam towards deeper waters.

2024, December 5. New Zealand, Tāwharanui Peninsula, Hauraki Gulf. Dead Humpback located floating in sea.

2024, December 6. New Zealand, North Island, Tauranga region. Dead Pygmy sperm whale. 

2024, December 31. New Zealand, Chatham Islands. Three different locations between Taia and Okawa. 11 Black Dolphins (pilot whales) were found on the beach.

2025, January 7. Chatham Islands, Waitangi beach. A total of 15 common dolphins stranded. With two individuals of unknown gender and age deceased.

2025, January 7. New Zealand, Farewell Spit in Golden Bay. A total of 10 Black Dolphins (pilot whales) strand.

2015, January 8. New Zealand, Farewell Spit. Five Black Dolphins (pilot whales) found dead. It is likely these deaths are from a previous stranding last month. There is optimism over eight refloated at Farewell Spit.

2025, January 14. New Zealand, north of Christchurch, Spencer Park Surf Life Saving Club. Two Gray’s beaked whales were found stranded and deceased.

2025, January 18? New Zealand, North Island, Ōtautū Bay in Coromandel. Beaked Whale washed up deceased.

2025, January 18. New Zealand, Golden Bay, Puponga Beach near Pakawau, near Taupata Stream. Between 34 short-finned Black Dolphins (pilot whales) stranded, 3 died, the rest refloated, then restranded at Tomatea Point on the 20th. They range in ages and sizes. It is the third mass stranding on New Zealand mainland in less than seven weeks.

2025, January 18. New Zealand, South Island, Christchurch’s New Brighton Beach. A juvenile Beaked Whale refloated struggling in shallow water returned to sea.

2025, January 20. New Zealand, Taupata Point. A total of 11 short-finned Black Dolphins (pilot whales) strand.

2025, January 28. New Zealand, Riverhead, Auckland. Beaked whale, however species confirmation is yet to be determined.