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Story: Tāwhirimātea – the weather

Red sky at night

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Red sky at night

Clouds are lit by the setting sun at Island Bay, Wellington. Red clouds at sunset are known as Te Tātua o Te Kaha (the belt of Te Kaha). A similar phrase, Te Tātua o Te Kahu (the belt of Te Kahu) refers to a bank of clouds in the west lit by the setting sun.

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How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Tāwhirimātea – the weather – Clouds, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/8272/red-sky-at-night (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 March 2022.