Meteor causes panic in New Zealand

AdelaideNow... Meteor causes panic in New Zealand:

"Matthew Miller, who was working outdoors at Ashburton, south of Christchurch, said he saw a fireball streak across the sky, although he did not hear the sonic boom reported by witnesses in areas further north."

Now we've got low flying meteors in NZ with their sonic boom. How often does that happen? I have never heard of a low flying meteor before. I have been in that part of NZ. It's beautiful and very rural. It would have given the locals quite a fright because they live at an easy, civilised pace. I hope the animals weren't too startled.