By David Farrier
A popular Christmas gift is proving to be a startling success.
Among those startled are pilots who report seeing inflatable toy sharks that are remote-controlled, helium-filled and - according to the manufacturer - are only meant to be used indoors.
Over summer, the headlines are full of sharks sighted in the water. But this holiday we have a new type of shark sighting - in the air.
"Lady came in this morning, she'd filled it up, someone opened the door and it ran out," one toy store owner told 3 News.
"Gone."
Gone - and that's the problem. Filled with helium, sharks and other assorted fish are escaping.
A Christchurch pilot even reported seeing one out of his window on Boxing Day, but passengers needn't worry.
"If you're driving along in your car on the motorway and you see a bit of paper whoosh under your car, your car is one tonne, and this is a 40 tonne aircraft," says Irene King, CEO of the Aviation Industry Association.
"You won't even feel the 'whoosh'."
Smaller aircraft are also safe. The helium is non explosive - pilots fear birds more. Sharks just keep them on their toes.
"The really good thing about all of this is that pilots are looking out the window," says Ms King. "I mean we get a lot of reports that pilots are not looking out the window."
Many New Zealand stores have sold out, and overseas they're also proving popular - and equally as evasive.
They're not easy to assemble - it took the newsroom about two hours.
3 News