The Stardome Observatory in Auckland says New Zealanders can expect to observe more meteors over the country as part of a yearly meteor shower.

There have been reports from Auckland to Canterbury of meteors being seen early on Tuesday morning.

Stardome's education officer Jenny McCormick says the sightings could be part of the Persid meteor shower left over from a disintegrated comet, which will continue to occur until August 12.

She says stargazers can expect to see plenty of meteors coming from the northern hemisphere as bright exploding lights between 3am and dawn on clear nights.

A Masterton police officer has described a meteorite seen off the coast of the lower North Island in the early hours of Tuesday as the biggest meteorite he has ever seen.

Several pilots reported seeing a bright white and green light enter the atmosphere, which lit up the cockpit of one plane.

As it broke up it was visible as fragments which turned red as they disintegrated.

Sergeant Paul Lee was attending a domestic incident when he was distracted by the light which he says lasted only about a second.

Police received calls from people from Hawke's Bay to Canterbury about the light.

Pilots have narrowed the meteorite's landing point to the sea near White Rock, north east of Cape Palliser in Wairarapa.

If anyone has any information or pictures of the meteor showers they can contact the Christchurch newsroom at newsch@tvnz.co.nz