The mystery of the strange glowing lights spotted floating over Malfroy Rd in early November may have been solved.
Late last month, The Daily Post reported a number of different unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings around the region with the national UFO research organisation, UfocusNZ, saying the Bay of Plenty had been a hot bed of UFO activity in recent times.
Sightings of strange glowing orbs in the sky were made over Lake Tarawera and Hamurana and several people witnessed similar phenomena over Malfroy Rd on, or about, October 30.
At the time, witnesses said they were "freaked out" by the floating orbs, which, they said, were no more than 300m away and appeared to form a straight line. The objects were then seen to disappear behind some trees.
However, a Pukehangi Rd resident who only wanted to be known as David, said he thought he knew where the lights over Malfroy Rd originated.
He said on November 1, his daughter held a remembrance service for her stillborn child who died last year.
"It was just on dark, about 9pm, when they let about nine of those Chinese-type lantern things off into the sky.
"They headed up toward Pukehangi Rd but then they floated back toward the Challenge petrol station before they went up into the sky and disappeared."
Challenge petrol station worker Michelle, who witnessed the lights along with a number of petrol station customers, said she thought the explanation was sensible.
"It's a bit of a shame really, but it does sound pretty reasonable to me.
"At least I know I'm not mad," she said.
If you think you have seen something strange in the night sky, contact Suzanne Hansen at UfocusNZ at www.ufocusnz.org.nz
