The Kaikoura Lights

On December 31, 1978, a film crew aboard a cargo plane in New Zealand captured some of the most compelling UFO footage ever recorded. The Kaikoura lights, tracked on radar and witnessed by experienced pilots, have never been satisfactorily explained.

The Setting

New Year’s Eve 1978:

• South Island, New Zealand
• Cargo flight
• Argosy aircraft
• Safe Freight company
• With film crew

Why Film Crew?

Australian television:

• Channel 0 (Ten)
• Investigating prior sightings
• Same route
• December 21 encounters
• Follow-up mission

The Crew

Aboard were:

• Captain Bill Startup
• Co-pilot Bob Guard
• Quentin Fogarty (reporter)
• David Crockett (cameraman)
• His wife Ngaire

Prior Incidents

December 21, 1978:

• Multiple sightings
• Same flight route
• Wellington to Christchurch
• Radar confirmation
• Triggered investigation

New Year’s Eve Flight

December 31:

• Departed Blenheim
• Toward Christchurch
• Radar contacts began
• Then visual sightings
• Film rolling

What They Saw

Multiple objects:

• Bright lights
• Pulsating
• Following aircraft
• Maneuvering
• For extended period

The Radar

Wellington radar:

• Tracked objects
• Multiple contacts
• Near the aircraft
• Confirmed visually
• Real targets

The Film

Crockett captured:

• Color footage
• Multiple sequences
• Objects moving
• Changing brightness
• Remarkable evidence

Captain Startup

Experienced pilot:

• 23 years flying
• Never seen anything like it
• Objects were real
• Not aircraft
• Certain something there

The Analysis

Film examined by:

• Dr. Bruce Maccabee
• Optical physicist
• Thorough analysis
• Genuine anomalies
• Not artifacts

Skeptical Explanations

Some suggested:

• Venus
• Japanese fishing boats
• Train lights
• Squid boat lights
• None fully satisfying

Problems with Explanations

But consider:

• Radar confirmation
• Objects moving
• Following aircraft
• Pilots’ experience
• Film evidence

The Return Flight

After landing:

• Objects still there
• Return trip
• More sightings
• Additional footage
• Persistent phenomenon

Media Impact

Story went:

• Global coverage
• Major news story
• International interest
• Footage broadcast
• Public fascination

Official Response

New Zealand government:

• Investigated
• No conclusion
• Radar data confirmed
• Objects unidentified
• Case open

Bruce Maccabee’s Study

The physicist:

• Examined thoroughly
• Ruled out explanations
• Found genuine anomaly
• Published analysis
• Scientific support

The Footage Today

Available:

• Online accessible
• Historical document
• Primary evidence
• Still studied
• Valuable record

Significance

Kaikoura significant for:

• Film evidence
• Radar confirmation
• Multiple witnesses
• Professional crew
• Scientific analysis

Legacy

The Kaikoura lights represent some of the best UFO evidence captured on film. Radar confirmation, experienced pilot witnesses, and extensive footage make this case exceptionally difficult to dismiss.