Mystery bang heard in Hawkes Bay

Mystery surrounds a massive explosion that shook windows and woke people in several northern Hawkes Bay towns early yesterday.

Theories included a thunderclap, a meteor entering the atmosphere, and an exploding LPG bottle

Senior Sergeant Chris Flood of Wairoa police said the blast occurred about 3.40am and several people reported "hearing a loud explosion and seeing the whole sky light up".

He thought it might have been a meteor.

Constable John Bruce from Kotemaori, 45km southeast of Wairoa, said he thought the noise was an earthquake.

Carter Observatory astronomer Kay Leather said the explosion might have been the sonic boom of a meteor entering the atmosphere.

A meteor, which might be no larger than a fist, would cause a loud explosion and a light as bright as daylight.