# Northern lights in New Zealand tonight and this season

> Aurora probability over Stewart Island right now from NOAA, the Kp each of the 3 places in New Zealand needs by geomagnetic latitude, the season.

Canonical: https://kpforecast.com/new-zealand/
Updated on: 2026-10-09

Live aurora odds for 3 places in New Zealand, the Kp each one needs, the season, and the guided tours that pass the catalogue filter. Data: NOAA SWPC, refreshed every 15 minutes.

## In short

Northern lights in New Zealand need Kp 8 or more at Stewart Island, the best placed of the 3 spots on this page by geomagnetic latitude (-50.7°). The southern lights season in New Zealand is the austral winter, with the longest nights from May to August. The probability over each place right now comes from the NOAA OVATION model and refreshes every 15 minutes, with the time of the last fetch shown under each figure.

## Key points

- Kp needed: 8 at Stewart Island, up to 9 at Queenstown, by geomagnetic latitude
- 3 places in New Zealand with a live OVATION probability on this page
- Aurora probability over Stewart Island refreshes every 15 minutes with the fetch time shown
- No guided aurora tour in the catalogue passes the filter yet
- Kp forecast for the next 3 days in 3-hour slots, from NOAA SWPC

## Aurora over Stewart Island right now

Live figures on the web page, refreshed every 15 minutes.

## Why New Zealand for the northern lights

The South Island is the best place in the Pacific for the southern lights. Stewart Island, Rakiura in Māori, has been an International Dark Sky Sanctuary since 2019, Dunedin has beaches that face due south, and Queenstown has the flights and a few tours. The Kp figures on this page are conservative for the same reason as Tasmania: the oval's edge is soft.

## The Kp each place in New Zealand needs

The table ranks the places in New Zealand by geomagnetic latitude, which is what decides how strong a storm has to be before the auroral oval reaches them. NOAA puts the edge of the oval at about 66 degrees geomagnetic for Kp 0 and moves it 2 degrees toward the equator per Kp level. The full method, including why the figure is conservative, is on the [data and method page](https://kpforecast.com/data-and-method/).

## Kp forecast for the next 3 days

Live figures on the web page, refreshed every 15 minutes.

## When to see the northern lights in New Zealand

The southern lights season in New Zealand is the austral winter, with the longest nights from May to August.

## Northern lights tours in New Zealand

No guided aurora tour in New Zealand passes the catalogue filter of at least 4.3 stars and 20 reviews on the booking site right now, so this page shows the live odds and the Kp needed instead.

## Places in New Zealand for the northern lights, by geomagnetic latitude

| Place | Latitude | Geomagnetic latitude | Kp needed | Tours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stewart Island | 46.9° S | -50.7° | 8 | 0 |
| Dunedin | 45.9° S | -49.3° | 9 | 0 |
| Queenstown | 45.0° S | -48.8° | 9 | 0 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Can you see the northern lights in New Zealand?

Yes, when the Kp index reaches the level a place needs and the sky is dark and clear. Stewart Island needs Kp 8 or more by the NOAA rule used on this site, and Queenstown needs Kp 9. The live probability for each place in New Zealand is on this page and refreshes every 15 minutes.

### What Kp index do you need for the northern lights in New Zealand?

Between Kp 8 and Kp 9 depending on the place. The figure comes from geomagnetic latitude: NOAA puts the edge of the auroral oval at about 66 degrees for Kp 0 and moves it 2 degrees toward the equator per Kp level, and it is conservative, because NOAA also notes that aurora is often visible hundreds of kilometres equatorward of that edge. The data and method page explains the calculation and its limits.

### When is the best time to see the northern lights in New Zealand?

The southern lights season in New Zealand is the austral winter, with the longest nights from May to August. Clear, dark nights matter as much as the Kp, so the cloud forecast for the dates decides the real view.

### Which place in New Zealand has the best aurora odds tonight?

The cards on this page rank the 3 places in New Zealand by the NOAA OVATION probability for the current forecast hour. Stewart Island has the lowest Kp requirement, so it leads on quiet nights, but local cloud decides what is actually seen.

### Are there guided northern lights tours in New Zealand?

No guided aurora tour in New Zealand passes the catalogue filter of at least 4.3 stars and 20 reviews on the booking site right now. The page shows the live odds and the Kp needed so a visit can still be timed with the forecast.

### Does New Zealand have polar night or midnight sun?

No. Stewart Island, Dunedin and Queenstown lie north of the Antarctic Circle, so every winter night is dark. The limiting factor for the southern lights in New Zealand is the Kp index, which only a strong storm pushes high enough.

## Sources

- [NOAA SWPC, tips on viewing the aurora](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/tips-viewing-aurora), checked on 2026-10-09
- [NOAA NCEI, World Magnetic Model 2025, geomagnetic pole](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/world-magnetic-model), checked on 2026-10-09
- [NOAA SWPC, OVATION aurora forecast model](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast), checked on 2026-10-09