The aurora australis put on a spectacle in a rare solar storm on Monday night.
Light chasers got clear views of purple, orange, and green flares as far north as Auckland, with many first-time spotters braving the cold.
Astronomers say this hints towards an upcoming solar maximum - a period of increased activity, with more frequent visibility.
Otago Museum director and astronomer Dr Ian Griffin tells Ingrid Hipkiss about what it was like to witness the rare event.
