Airline pilots says lasers being pointed at planes on landing confuses, temporarily blinds pilots. They want the offence considered as a serious offence. "We need to deal with the issue and we need to deal with it strongly" says the Airline Pilots' Association, Tim Robinson.

Several international flights have been targeted by laser strikes near Auckland Airport overnight.

A police spokeswoman said the complaints were received about 5.15am Friday, after pilots reported the strikes coming from the Weymouth area on approach to the airport.

Helicopter pilots also reported being struck by a laser from the area last night, about 9.45pm, other media reported.

The plane was flying from Hamilton to Wellington when the incident happened over Upper Hutt.

Police were investigating the incidents.

The strikes come after a powerful green laser was pointed into the cockpit of an Air New Zealand aircraft en route to Wellington Airport on Thursday night.

The passenger plane, flying south from Hamilton, was targeted by the laser strike about 10,500ft (3.2km) near Upper Hutt, about 8.10pm.

MORNING REPORT/Radio New Zealand Pilots in 2016 were targeted when a powerful green laser was pointed at an Air New Zealand plane cockpit preparing to land at Wellington airport. The same day a helicopter and several international flights were targeted from Weymouth in Auckland.

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Police believed the laser came from the Trentham area, near the motorway.

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FAIRFAX NZ Despite having their view obscured, pilots managed to safely land their plane at Wellington Airport.

Both pilots suffered headaches and had their vision temporarily obscured, but managed to land the plane safely.

Police said they were continuing their inquiries on Friday, after unsuccessful area patrols in the Hutt Valley on Thursday night.

It was the latest in a string of laser strikes on commercial aircraft in New Zealand's skies.

A fortnight ago, Hamilton police launched an investigation after a ground laser light was aimed at a commercial flight as it prepared to land.

An air traffic control tower staff member at Palmerston North Airport reported laser flashes in mid-July.

"As well are doing area patrols, police now need the public's help in finding the offender(s) who put people and the pilots at risk," a police statement said.

"If anyone knows of a person with a laser, or witnessed one being operated this evening, please call police on 111."

It is an offence under the Summary Offences Act 1981 for anyone, in a public place, to be in possession of a high-powered laser without reasonable excuse.

"Anyone found to be pointing lasers in cockpits can expect to be held to account through the court system and face serious charges," police said.

New regulations came into force in March, 2014, restricting the importation of high-powered laser pointers with an output power of greater than one milliwatt.

On Friday, flight attendants' union E tū condemned the strikes as irresponsible and potentially lethal.

Director of organising aviation Kelvin Ellis said the outcome of the attacks could have been catastrophic.

"These strikes put everyone at risk, including the pilots, flight attendants and the general public."

Ellis said landing at Wellington was stressful enough without the risk of a laser strike.

"To have this stress at the back of their minds is not a good thing."

WHAT IS THE RISK?

The Civil Aviation Authority said the human eye interpreted a green laser light as being up to 30 times brighter than a red laser of the same power.

Direct exposure to the lasers, which generated up to five milliwatts of power, could result in momentary 'flash blindness', with possible after-images of varying length, it said.

In contrast, red laser lights, most usually used in classrooms, were not powerful enough to cause harm.

A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman said the reported number of laser strikes on Air New Zealand aircraft this year had already equalled last year's total.

MAJOR INCIDENTS

May 2011: Green laser repeatedly hit the Police Eagle helicopter in Auckland. Two people were arrested.

May 2012: A helicopter was targeted with a green laser while approaching Waikato Hospital.

Feb 2013: Two crew and a medical officer suffered vision impairment in a New Plymouth laser attack.

April 2013: Laser was pointed at a military helicopter operating at Whenuapai, Auckland.

Dec 2013: Eagle helicopter hit again with a green laser.

July 2014: A laser strike into a flight deck blinded both pilots of an Airbus approaching Auckland.

Feb 2015: Green and red laser allegedly pointed at Christchurch air traffic control tower for 5-8 minutes.

LASER STRIKES ON AIR NZ AIRCRAFT BY YEAR:

2012: 107

2013: 119

2014: 110

2015: 104

2016 (to date): 104

(Source: Civil Aviation Authority)