An aurora is produced when electrons from space hit Earth’s magnetic field, colliding with molecules in the upper atmosphere, which produces stunning multicoloured lights near the Earth’s magnetic poles.
In Aotearoa, the further south you are, the more likely you are to see them.
Otago University physicist Professor Craig Rodger told Newshub there were great auroras on Matariki Friday night and Saturday morning across the country.
“A solar tsunami (coronal mass ejection) arrived at the Earth from the Sun about 10pm on Friday night,” he said.
“It was predicted to make a moderate geomagnetic storm, but it actually triggered a significant storm. The aurora was quite strong and bright, clearly.”