New Zealand update

Below are two additional fireballs recorded since July 26th. Please see the previous post below involving the other four. There have been three recorded large cetacean strandings since the 9th. 

2026, August 6. New Zealand, South Island east coast, Canterbury. Fireball. Region Seen: Canterbury, Otago and Wellington. Time: around 06:45 UT, 18:45NZST. Travelling N over coast.  

2026, August 9. New Zealand, Cook Strait. Fireball. Time: 06:18UT, 18:18NZST. Seen in Wellington, Nelson and Manawatū-Whanganui Regions. This was the sixth fireball recorded in New Zealand since July 26th. Please see the post below involving the other four. 

2026, August 9. New Zealand, South Island, Cook Strait, south of Palliser Bay, near Waimeha Camping Village. A juvenile humpback whale washed ashore dead.

2026, August 9. New Zealand, Waiheke, near the Kennedy Point wharf. A Minke whale carcass washed ashore.

2026, August 11. New Zealand, NW South Island, Carters Beach, Westport on the West Coast, just over two kilometres down the beach, south of the township. A large pygmy blue whale, 21.7 metres long and is believed to weigh about 20 tonnes. In a moderate state of decomposition. The whale was first spotted floating in the surf on Monday, August 10, before washing fully ashore on Tuesday, August 11.