Keen Kiwi photographers have snapped shots of a stunning, rare super blue moonrise - the first time the astronomical phenomenon has graced our skies in 14 years.
The spectacular sight of a supermoon happens about three or four times a year when the moon is full and is as close to the Earth as it can get. On Thursday night it was about 20,000km closer than normal.
When two full moons land in the same calendar month the second instance is known as a blue moon. Thursday night was the second full moon and a supermoon, hence a super blue moon.
Photographs show a giant moon, almost ablaze with a golden hue peering from behind Auckland City Hospital, slowly rising above the horizon.
Meanwhile, at Mount Maunganui, a copper-coloured moon rose over the ocean, bright against a dimming blue sky.
