UFO sighters not convinced by lantern-launch theory

Chris Gardner
An attempt to explain why Hawke's Bay has seemingly become an intergalactic crossroads has not convinced a group of people who spotted UFOs in the region's sky in recent weeks.
Lesley Thomas, of Hastings, told Hawke's Bay Today that she thought at least some of the reported UFO sightings in the region could be explained by the launch of Thai wish lanterns available from Barron Imports at Mangateretere on State Highway Two.
Mrs Thomas, who launched two wish lanterns from her daughter's home in Pakipaki Road on New Year's Eve, launched a third wish lantern last night with a crowd who had spotted UFOs in the skies above Hawke's Bay since Christmas Day.
The lanterns, which are about the size of a person, are powered by a paraffin-soaked wick which lifts the lantern into the atmosphere until it disappears from view.
"It may be what people have been seeing," Mrs Thomas said.
"Some might be lanterns and some might be genuine UFOs."
Graham Gunn, who spotted a "yellow-orange ball" off Bay View after 9pm on Christmas Day, was disappointed that Mrs Thomas may have an explanation for his sighting.
"The lantern was not dissimilar to what I saw on Christmas night," he said.
"We would have to be naive to think that we are alone in the universe."
His son Blair, who photographed the UFO on Christmas night, was not as certain as his father that the mystery could be explained so easily.
Claire MacGregor of Mayfair in Hastings, was not convinced by Mrs Thomas's demonstration since her camera had seemingly been scrambled by the object.
"It was not what we saw on New Year's Eve," Mrs MacGregor said.
The lantern was vertical, while the object she spotted was horizontal.
"It (the lantern) was too small and the light was wrong."
She had reported seeing something the size of a helicopter, or bigger, above Hastings at 9.20pm before it was too dark - ten minutes before Mrs Thomas's first launch.
"I really don't think we would have seen the lantern in the daylight."
Retired cabinet maker Henk van Hooijdonk, 70, who also saw the New Year's Eve UFO over Hastings at 9pm, was also unconvinced by Mrs Thoams's demonstration.
"The light I saw (on New Year's Eve) was like it was contained," he said.
The New Year's Eve object appeared to be moving under its own power, rather than being blown by the wind.
Peter Proctor, who spotted the UFO from Karamu Road while he was getting petrol, said Mrs Thomas's launch did not explain what he and Rachel Pomeroy, of Hastings, saw on New Year's Eve.
"The lantern wasn't bright enough."
A Barron Imports spokesman, who refused to be named, said the company had sold a dozen wish lanterns in the past week at $20 a piece.
The company imported the lanterns from Thailand where it is customary to launch them on New Year's Day for good luck, he said.