Meteorite most likely cause of boom, observatory says

A meteorite is believed to have burned up over Canterbury today before slamming into the ground.

A loud boom heard throughout the region was most likely to be the meteorite, up to the size of a medicine ball, Stardome Observatory in Auckland said.

The loud boom was heard over Canterbury, with sightings as far apart as Hanmer Springs in North Canterbury, and Hinds in Mid-Canterbury.

Initial reports had come through the police communications system, with follow-ups from eyewitness accounts.

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A Christchurch Fire Communications spokesman said the first calls from the public started at 2.53pm today, with people reporting windows rattling and the air "shaking".

Observatory spokesman Andrew Buckingham said: "We're still finding out what's going on".

"It sounds like a large meteor coming down... soccer ball size upwards," Mr Buckingham said.

It was more likely to be one large rock entering the earth's atmosphere as a fireball, rather than a meteor shower.

The boom was either the meteor breaking the sound barrier or exploding as it burned up.

- NZPA