A yellow/red flare was sighted over the sea from the shore 300m west of Pikowai Camp at 16.15hr. The flare was estimated to be 1-1.5km out to sea and 17nm from Whakatane. Police were notified and tasked Whakatane Coastguard to proceed to the location and do a search of the area.  Sea conditions were reasonable with 12-33kt wind from WSW and 1m swell from the north. While Police obtained further information about the sighting, Whakatane Rescue with a crew of 6 was launched at 17.11hr and crossed the bar at 17.19hr.  Whakatane Rescue arrived on the scene at 17.39hr and started searching.  After receiving further information about similar flare sightings at the same time from Rotoma, Taupo and Whitianga, the Police decided that the “flare” was a meteor and Whakatane Rescue was stood down at 17.42hr and returned to port.