Origin of Hawke's Bay 'UFO' finally revealed

An object that mysteriously smashed through the roof of a house near Hastings, forcing a light plane to land for a mechanical check, apparently came from a wood-splitter.

The incident occurred about a month ago when a Whakatu resident called police and said a chunk of iron had ended up on his living room floor, leaving a hole in his roof.

Napier airport authorities were contacted and in turn advised the pilot of a light plane which had flown near the house on the way to Wellington to call in at Palmerston North and check for missing parts.

But Sergeant Bob Gordon said he understood the part broke off from a wood-splitter.

The part is now being offered on the TradeMe auction website by a man living near the damaged home.

The man told Hawke's Bay Today any money raised was earmarked for the neighbour with a hole in his roof.

The auction, listing the part as the "genuine UFO" that had made international news, lapsed when the bidding stopped at $655 - $95 below reserve. - stuff