Media release

9 May 2011

Ministry for Culture and Heritage/Te Ara

Marlborough’s bright unexplained lights

Te Ara, New Zealand’s online encyclopedia, launches its new Marlborough region entry this Thursday in Blenheim. The entry is a detailed exploration of the area covering its history, culture, industry and strange phenomenon:

Kaikōura made international headlines in December 1978 when unidentified flying objects followed a plane flying down the coast. Journalist Quentin Fogarty, who was on the flight, described seeing ‘little pinpricks of light that turned into great globes of light’.1 Radar systems also picked up the flying objects, and they were filmed by a cameraman on the plane. Sceptics have suggested that the apparitions were squid boats, Venus, or Wellington’s city lights, but those on the plane remained adamant that they had seen something strange. The lights have never been explained.

However, much about the region is explained, including interesting facts:

• 80% of New Zealand’s exported aquaculture comes from Marlborough
• Nearly 80% of Marlborough vineyards are dedicated to growing sauvignon blanc grapes
• The Awatere Valley has experienced New Zealand’s hottest temperature, 42 degrees!

Te Ara’s Marlborough entry also includes thorough information about the Western Sounds, Outer Sounds, Arapawa Island, Pelorus valley, Picton, Lower Wairau, Upper Wairau, Blenheim, Awatere vallery and Kaikōura coast.

To find out more, visit: http://author.teara.govt.nz/en/marlborough

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