As the Air New Zealand 737-300 flight from Auckland was approaching Dunedin International Airport about 9pm on Monday, a green laser was pointed at the plane.
An airline spokesman said the pilot was able to radio control-tower staff, who then notified police of the location of the offenders.
Detective Sergeant Neil Lowden, of Mosgiel, said the pilot was able to pinpoint "fairly precisely where the laser originated", and a patrol of the Kinmont area located the two boys responsible.
While they were too young to be charged, "they were given a stern warning and their parents weren't very impressed", he said.
The incident had the potential to be extremely dangerous for the crew and passengers, especially during an approach to Dunedin at night, Det Sgt Lowden said.
Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Bill Sommer said there were two other reported cases in Dunedin dating back to 2009, and Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch had reported the most incidents.
Mr Sommer said while information was essential to catch the culprits, pilots were advised not to look directly at the source of a laser, which could damage their eyes, and to notify air traffic control of the incident.
Pilots had described the light from laser pointers as like "having a searchlight lit up in the cockpit". They could cause momentary flash blindness.
Most incidents occurred during an approach, "a time when maximum concentration is needed in the cockpit".
Mr Sommer said that although lasers had caused no major incidents, they were "extremely dangerous".
"If the guys do lose concentration on approach and the aircraft crashes, you have a major disaster on your hands."
Offenders pointing a laser at an aircraft could be charged under the Civil Aviation Act 1990.
• Seven Air New Zealand domestic flights were cancelled yesterday at Dunedin airport because of black ice on the runway, an airline spokesman said.
Three in-bound and four out-bound flights were cancelled and two others delayed, before the runway was reopened at 11am.
