Thick smoke drifting from the Australian bushfires is making its way to New Zealand. Photo / MetServiceThick smoke drifting from the Australian bushfires is making its way to New Zealand. Photo / MetServiceThick smoke drifting from the Australian bushfires is making its way to New Zealand, which may cause our skies to change colour. Satellite imagery from MetService showed the smoke moving towards the west coast of the South Island. MetService meteorologist Samkelo Magwala told the Herald some South Island residents may see a reddish colour in the clouds around the sun this evening.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 10, 2026 07:37 UTC