31-07-2025
Kaikōura steps up astrotourism as it dims the lights
The Milky Way Galaxy over the Kaikōura Ranges.
Photo:
LDR / Brooke Unger
Kaikōura is stepping up its efforts to become a year-round destination, nearly a year on from obtaining dark sky sanctuary status.
Colette Doughty, Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust co-ordinator, said new web pages have been created to offer a self-guided stargazing experience for locals and visitors.
Anyone planning a visit to Kaikōura can check out the 'discover, dine, stay' page, she said.
''It is aimed at people looking to have an experience, whether coming from out of town, enjoying telescopic tours or staying somewhere with a dark sky focus.
''We are getting more and more people emailing and asking 'what can we do?' 'Where can we stay?'.''
Vistors and locals can also find information on self-guided stargazing and tips on light pollution and protection.
While the town tries to attract more star-gazing tourists, the number of cruise ship visitors are expected to fall by half this summer.
Just [ five cruise ships] are scheduled to visit Kaikōura during December, January and February, down from 11 last summer and 16 in summer 2023/24.
New astrotourism ventures have started up including Moana Skies, which offers stargazing experiences, astrophotography experiences and a number of local businesses are getting on board.
The Kaikōura district obtained international dark sky sanctuary status in September 2024, on the back of the Kaikōura District Council's new lighting rules in the District Plan.
The motivation behind the dark sky bid was to protect the endangered Hutton's shearwater birds / tītī, as the birds regularly crash land in the town after becoming disorientated by street lights.
The Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust displayed ''the good, the bad and the ugly'' of lighting at the Kaikōura A&P Show earlier this year.
Photo:
LDR / David Hill / North Canterbury News
Doughty said the trust is working with local businesses and groups to help them source dark sky approved lighting on new builds and when replacing light bulbs.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has also been changing the street lights on Beach Road / State Highway 1, to the northern end of the town.
The trust is working with schools so they can incorporate appropriate lighting into their 10-year upgrade programmes, and talking to retailers about what light bulbs they have in stock.
''It is a slow process to get little changes. We are not expecting immediate change, just when things are broken or need replacing,'' Doughty said.
''There's still local people who are perhaps not aware of the new lighting rules and the benefits of good lighting.''
She said people could save money by installing energy efficient lighting, using light shielding or a timer and turning lights off when not in use.
To help educate the community, the trust has prepared a lighting box to demonstrate ''the good, the bad and the ugly'' of lighting, which it takes to local events.
The trust is preparing a separate application for international dark community status to Dark Sky International for the town and peninsula, which was not able to be included in the dark sky sanctuary bid.
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LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
