Meteor Airburst off the coast of New Zealand

2026, January 30. New Zealand, east of South Island. Airburst. Time: 23:25 NZT or 10:25:27UT. Coordinates: (45.0S, 174.5E). Altitude: 89 km. Energy: e = 3.4e10, -e = 0.12 or 120,000 kg/TNT. Total Velocity: 71.07 km/s. This high velocity is quite characteristic of objects originating from further out in the solar system or those meeting Earth head-on in its orbit. Sound: Concurrent and delayed sound heard. Duration: 5+ sec. Direction: WSW? (further data to come). Left behind a glowing contrail. Seen the length of the South Island and in the southern parts of the North Island. Canterbury Region, Manawatū-Whanganui Region, Marlborough Region, Nelson Region, Otago Region, Southland Region, Tasman Region, Wellington Region. 

A Marine Animal Disturbance alert should be noted for the region from Stewart Island in the south to Hawkes Bay in the North. Further data regarding the meteor flux before and after this event in later days. A broad precautionary watch for the Chatham Islands, Farewell Spit and even the west side coastal regions of the country. 

Historically, the airbursts in the southern regions have shown a detrimental effect over a large area.  So far Tasmania has reported no data; however, this island is in a data blind. Usually, any high activity in New Zealand can result in strandings in Tasmania. Therefore, a watch should be noted for species not commonly seen in stranding events, and it can be months after the incident stream has occurred.

Fireballs Aotearoa: Facebook

A second event:

2026, January 30. New Zealand. Fireball. Time: 22:32NZDT or 09:32 UT. Seen: Manawatū-Whanganui Region, Marlborough Region, Taranaki Region, Wellington Region  

Marine Animal Disturbance Alert

I'm placing a Marine Animal Disturbance alert out for the Chatham Islands and the east coast of the two islands of New Zealand after the meteor airburst. The event parameters: 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. Pacific Ocean 334 km E.N.E of the Chatham Islands. A pilot whale can travel up to 160 km a day. This reduces to 40 to 60km when unsettled. The combination of the noise and VLF Radio waves injures toothed whales. This holds for Baleen whales also however it is just the noise that upsets them. This event is almost three times greater than the one in South Africa that created a large sonic boom and less in altitude and at greater velocity. This calculates that it was roughly between 5 to 10m in diameter if it was a stoney meteoroid.