An unusual koru-shaped cloud has been spotted off the east coast of the South Island.
MetService shared a satellite image of the low hanging cloud that caused fog in Christchurch and Kaikoura on Thursday morning.
"Koru in the cloud! This low cloud off of the east coast of the South Island has had Christchurch and Kaikoura in fog, but is gradually moving offshore now," a MetService tweet reads.
The spiral shape is caused by eddies in the wind rotating the low cloud upwards, MetService meteorologist Tom Adams told Newshub.
Eddies in the wind are common but for it to happen on flat sea fog is "definitely a novelty," Mr Adams says.
The koru design inspired by the New Zealand fern symbolises new life, strength and peace in Maori culture.
It is often recognised as an iconic New Zealand symbol.
Newshub.
