An Ahipara man says he saw a suspicious aircraft hovering unusually close to the water, five days before a record-breaking methamphetamine bust.
The local resident, who didn't want to be named, said he witnessed an "absolutely unusual" situation last Wednesday evening between 11pm to midnight.
An aircraft which he believed sounded like a twin engine turbo prop plane was flying low above the water in bad weather, heading east towards Kaitaia.
"It was absolutely bizarre. I could hear the damn thing and all I saw were the red flashy lights."
He estimated the aircraft was flying about 500ft off the ground.