{"type":"events","slug":"1978-new-zealand-ufo-wave","title":"New Zealand UFO Wave","url":"https://disclosdex.com/events/1978-new-zealand-ufo-wave","description":"Throughout 1978, numerous sightings culminated in radar and film evidence over New Zealand skies","date":"1978-01-01T00:00:00.000Z","tags":["Wave"],"updated":"2025-06-13T13:26:43.000Z","disclosureRating":5,"lat":-41.2865,"lng":174.7762,"connectionCount":1,"content":{"markdown":"## Yearlong reports\n\nFrom early summer, pilots and civilians across New Zealand reported anomalous lights and radar returns. The attention reached a peak with the [Kaikoura](/locations/kaikoura) sightings in December.\n\n## Government stance\n\nAuthorities collected statements but attributed most cases to natural or man-made causes. Enthusiasts argued the consistent radar contacts indicated structured craft. [^1][^2][^3][^4][^5]\n\n[^1]: [New Zealand Defence Force file AIR 1080/6/897 Volume 1](https://www.ufoscans.com/raw/New%20Zealand%20UFO/AIR-1080-6-897-Volume-1-1978-1981_text.pdf)\n[^2]: [UFOScans index: Investigations of Unidentified & Radar Sightings East Coast South Island](https://www.ufoscans.com/air-1080-6-897-volume-1-1978-1981-text/)\n[^3]: [RNZ: Govt officials couldn't explain Kaikoura lights UFO sightings, documents show](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/428907/govt-officials-couldn-t-explain-kaikoura-lights-ufo-sightings-documents-show)\n[^4]: [Otago Daily Times: Air Force report explains Kaikoura \"UFO sightings\"](https://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/air-force-report-explains-kaikoura-ufo-sightings)\n[^5]: [SBS News: New Zealand military releases UFO files](https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/new-zealand-military-releases-ufo-files/hknryeche)","readingTime":"1 min read"},"relatedRecords":[{"ref":{"type":"locations","slug":"kaikoura","title":"Kaikoura","url":"https://disclosdex.com/locations/kaikoura"},"direction":"outbound","weight":1}],"citation":{"canonicalUrl":"https://disclosdex.com/events/1978-new-zealand-ufo-wave","title":"New Zealand UFO Wave","publisher":"Disclosdex","retrievedFrom":"https://disclosdex.com/api/v1/events/1978-new-zealand-ufo-wave","license":"CC-BY-4.0"},"witnesses":["Throughout 1978"],"evidence":["film","radar"]}