Chinese lanterns are causing a headache for Western Bay of Plenty Search and Rescue.
Tauranga police were notified about a bright red light in the sky on Thursday night in the Tauranga Harbour at 11.30pm by three members of the public, one in Tauriko, one in Mount Maunganui and other in Welcome Bay.

The Coast Guard was called out and searched the harbour around Kulim Park, the Waikareao estuary and the Waipu Bay for two hours but failed to find anyone in distress.
Police again received a call from a member of the public on Friday night who witnessed a small orange light off the Mount beach east of Rabbit Island, in the same area where a police patrol had seen two Chinese lanterns earlier in the night.
Distress flares are red in colour and are either hand held or a parachute flare, which will illuminate at the peak of its flight and slowly descend.
Chinese lanterns rise and drift with the air currents and come in a number of different colours.
Western Bay of Plenty Search and Rescue sergeant Craig Madden says it is irresponsible for those involved to set Chinese lanterns off over any water area where it could be mistaken for a flare.
Each sighting reported to police has to be investigated and if there is any doubt the Coast Guard is called out to check for any vessel in distress. Craig says this wastes a lot of time and resources when it turns out to be a false alarm, but each sighting is taken seriously.
Any person who is found to have set off any flare or Chinese Latin with the intent if causing alarm is likely to be charged.