Mass stranding in New Zealand and meteor activity

2025, December 30. New Zealand, Tasman Sea west of South Island. Fireball. Time: 14:47UTC. Velocity: 68.45 km/s. Duration: 3.78 sec travelling SW. Coordinates: ( -41.33, 170.98), LLE: (-42.51, 168.49). Altitude: 114.87 to 105.67 km.

2026, January 4. New Zealand. Cook Strait. Fireball. Time: 21:18NZDT, twilight. Heading SE. Seen from Wellington. This event was bright, as it wasn't fully dark. 45 degrees above horizon.

2026, January 5. New Zealand, North Island, west coastal region/Tasman Sea. Fireball. Time: 08:49UTC. Duration: 3.97 sec travelling NW south of Auckland. Coordinates: LLB: (-38.06, 175.84), LLE: (-36.73, 173.65). Altitude: 120.85 to 101 km.  

2026, January 8. New Zealand, Golden Bay/Mohua, Farewell Spit, near Triangle flat car park. A mass stranding of 63 Black Dolphins (pilot whales) occurred across three groups. Small up to large. Jan 9; 7:30AM. Of the 66 whales that stranded yesterday, 15 have restranded over 1km of beach and six deceased.

Update: 20260111. The 15 whales that were refloated have restranded at two sites - Pūponga and Farewell Spit. 

Update: 20260112: The remaining 11 were ethunaised. 42 returned to sea. Total number 21 dead?

Black dolphins (Pilot whales) stranded in UK waters Updated: 20241003

Thirty British Divers Marine Life Rescue members are trying to rescue nine pilot whales stranded in the Swale estuary near Sittingbourne off the Kent coast. The pod has become trapped on mudflats. Specialist equipment is being used to get across 1.2km of mud to reach the whales. Near Ferry House. Will give updates later. Update: 20241003. Seven whales have died.

Swale Estuary: Four whales dead after washing up on Kent coast (bbc.com)

Google Maps

The below picture is of a fireball captured during its flight on September 17. It is one of many seen across Europe is the last couple of months. This particuar one was travelling north to south.

Credit Sarah L.  

https://fireball.amsmeteors.org/