Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary
| Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary | |
|---|---|
 Milky Way over the Kaikōura mountains | |
 | |
| Location | Kaikōura District, New Zealand |
| Nearest town | Kaikōura |
| Coordinates | 42°15′47″S 173°40′29″E / 42.26306°S 173.67472°E |
| Area | 2,039 km2 (787 sq mi) |
| Designated | 2024 |
| Governing body | Kaikoura Dark Sky Trust |
| Website | kaikouradarksky |
The Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary is a dark-sky preserve located in the Kaikōura District in the South Island of New Zealand. It covers an area of 2,039 km2 (787 sq mi),[1] representing around 98% of the District, excluding the Kaikōura township.[2] The Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary was accredited as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary by DarkSky International in September 2024.[3] Kaikōura is the third dark sky sanctuary to be accredited in New Zealand.
The Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary has a pristine night sky, providing particularly clear viewing of the Milky Way galaxy. The average night sky luminance is 21.58 mag/arcsec2 (corresponding to Bortle scale 3).[3]
Background
[edit]A key driver for the establishment of a dark-sky preserve in the Kaikōura area was to help protect the Hutton's shearwater (Puffinus huttoni) or Kaikōura tītī, an endangered seabird in the family Procellariidae.
Risk to Hutton's shearwater
[edit]This bird is found in waters around Australia and New Zealand but it only breeds in the Seaward Kaikōura Range in New Zealand. It is the only seabird in the world that breeds in an alpine environment. The birds fly at night, but can become disoriented by bright lights. Fledglings are particularly vulnerable. They leave their nesting burrows in the mountains in the dark, and can crash-land on roads in the town. They are typically not able to take off again, making them vulnerable to being run over by vehicles or succumbing to predation by dogs or cats. Artificial lighting in the town led to over 200 birds crash-landing during the 2014/15 breeding season.[4] Conservation organisations in Kaikōura rescue stranded birds for later release, and advocate for reduced lighting. Work on improving protection for the Hutton's shearwater from the effects of artificial light in the town began in 2020.[5][6][7]
Establishment
[edit]Initial stages
[edit]A working group led by Nicky McArthur held their first public seminar to promote the Kaikōura dark-sky initiative in February 2021.[8] The Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust was a registered as a charity in New Zealand in 2022,[9] to work towards accreditation of a dark-sky preserve in the Kaikōura area.[10] The trust was established with seed funding provided by the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery alliance. The initiative was funded as part of the recovery phase from the 7.8 magnitude 2016 Kaikōura earthquake.[11]
In addition to seeking accreditation as a dark-sky preserve, the objectives of the trust include protecting and enhancing the night skies and leading initiatives to reduce light pollution in the Kaikōura District. In 2024, the Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust submitted a plan change request to the District Council, seeking changes to council regulations about lighting that would meet requirements for the designation of a dark-sky preserve.[12][13] These changes were adopted, and apply to new build projects and when lighting is being replaced.[2][14] The changes to the Kaikōura District outdoor lighting rules were aimed at new builds, and designed to reduce unnecessary or excessive use of artificial light at night. The rules include the use of motion sensors to activate lights, replacement of light fittings at their end-of-life using lamps with a colour temperature of 3000K or less, and restrictions for night-time lighting for sports events and for illumination of buildings for aesthetic purposes. The New Zealand Transport Agency agreed to change the street lighting on State Highway 1 through the town in 2024, using fully-shielded luminaires with colour temperature of 2200K or 2700K.[15]
Dark-sky accreditation was expected to boost the local economy by encouraging local astrotourism businesses.[16][17] In April 2022, the Mayor of Kaikōura said that the dark-sky preserve had the full support of the council, and would be a boost to tourist numbers, especially during the winter period.[18] Kaikōura District Council provided support for the costs of preparing the application to DarkSky International for designation as a dark-sky preserve, and Destination Kaikōura supported the establishment of a website for the trust.[19]
Designation
[edit]
In August 2024, the Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust applied to DarkSky International for designation of an area of 2,039 km2 (787 sq mi)[12] as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary.[20] A dark sky sanctuary is a type of dark sky place defined as:[21]
A public or private land that has an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is protected for its scientific, natural, or educational value, its cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment.
DarkSky International announced the designation on 11 September 2024.[3] At the time of the announcement, it was only the 22nd location world-wide to receive this recognition.[2] Kaikōura is the third dark sky sanctuary to be accredited in New Zealand, after Aotea Great Barrier Island in 2017 and Stewart Island/Rakiura in 2019.[3] The Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust plans to apply for the Kaikōura township to be recognised with international dark sky community status.[2][11][22] Accreditation of the Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary is a step towards New Zealand seeking accreditation as a Dark Sky Nation.[23]
References
[edit]- ^ Reagan, Drew (11 September 2024). "Kaikōura". DarkSky International. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d Allen, Ian (12 September 2024). "Kaikōura, the world's newest Dark Sky Sanctuary". Stuff. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d Regan, Drew (11 September 2024). "Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust achieves International Dark Sky Sanctuary status for Ka Whata Tu o Rakihouia Conservation Park and surrounding Department of Conservation lands". DarkSky International. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Mills, Laura (1 February 2024). "Dark Sky tourism boost". Kaikōura Star. p. 2.
- ^ Allott, Amber (5 March 2021). "Cantabrians urged to look out for threatened seabirds plummeting from the sky". Stuff. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ Martin, Lauren (3 March 2021). "Community asked to help save crash landed birds". Kaikoura Star. p. 12.
- ^ "Scores of confused birds crash in Kaikōura, lighting blamed". RNZ. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ Martin, Lauren (17 February 2021). "Dark Sky engages community". Kaikoura Star.
- ^ "Charity Summary: Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust". Charities Services. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Reid, Joy (16 April 2022). "Kaikoura wants dark sky reserve created to save native seabird". 1News. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
- ^ a b Hill, David (12 September 2024). "Kaikōura awarded dark sky sanctuary status". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ a b Hill, David (20 August 2024). "'Pristine night skies': Kaikōura plans to dim the lights with DarkSky application". RNZ. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ Hill, David (11 March 2024). "Tougher lighting rules aim to protect Kaikōura's night sky". Stuff. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ Davies, Lisa (12 September 2024). "Kaikōura recognised as New Zealand's latest Dark Sky Sanctuary". 1News. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "Kaikoura dark skies - everything you need to know". Kaikoura Star. 14 March 2024. p. 6.
- ^ "Dark Sky Reserve in Kaikoura". Kaikoura Star. 15 June 2022.
- ^ Field, Larry (13 July 2022). "Reducing light pollution in Kaikoura". Kaikoura Star.
- ^ Lourens, Marine (19 April 2022). "Dark sky reserve in Kaikōura could save Hutton's Shearwater birds, boost tourism". Stuff. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ "Dark Sky Trust launches new website". Kaikōura Community News: 1. November 2022.
- ^ "2024 DarkSky Sanctuary Application to DarkSky International". Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust. August 2024. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via DarkSky International.
- ^ "Dark Sky Place types". DarkSky International. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Hart, Maia (1 May 2021). "Dimming lights in Kaikōura to brighten town's prospects". Stuff. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ Whitehead, Joanna (19 December 2023). "Myth and meaning: Discovering New Zealand's newest dark sky reserve". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
External links
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