Wikipedia

Draft:Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary

Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary
LocationKaikōura District, New Zealand
Nearest townKaikōura
Coordinates42°15′47″S 173°40′29″E / 42.26306°S 173.67472°E / -42.26306; 173.67472
Area2,039 km2 (787 sq mi)
Designated2024
Governing bodyKaikoura Dark Sky Trust
Websitekaikouradarksky.nz

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] At the time of the announcement, it was only the 22nd location world-wide to receive this recognition.[2] A dark sky sanctuary is a type of dark sky place defined as:[4]

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.

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 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]

Establishment

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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. 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, 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. Conservation organisations in Kaikōura rescue stranded birds for later release, and advocate for reduced lighting.[5]

Work on improving protection for the Hutton's shearwater began in 2020.[2][6] A volunteer group, the Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust, was a registered as a charity in New Zealand in 2022,[7] to work towards accreditation of an dark-sky preserve in the Kaikōura area.[8] The trust was established with seed funding provided by the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR) alliance. The initiative was funded as part of the recovery phase from the 7.8 magnitude Kaikōura earthquake in 2016.[9] In April 2022, the Mayor of Kaikōura said that the dark-sky reserve initiative had the full support of the council, and would be a boost to tourist numbers, especially during the winter period.[10]

In 2024, the Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust submitted a plan change request to the District Council, seeking changes to council regulations about lighting.[11][12] These changes have been adopted, and apply to new build projects and when lighting is being replaced.[2][13]

The Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust applied to DarkSky International for recognition of the International DarkSky Sanctuary in August 2024,[14] and the announcement was made on 11 September 2024.[3] The Trust plans to apply for the Kaikōura township to be recognised with international dark sky community status.[9]

References

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  1. ^ Reagan, Drew (11 September 2024). "Kaikōura". DarkSky International. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Dark Sky Place types". DarkSky International. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Charity Summary: Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust". Charities Services. Retrieved 13 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ Reid, Joy (16 April 2022). "Kaikoura wants dark sky reserve created to save native seabird". 1 News. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  9. ^ a b Hill, David (12 September 2024). "Kaikōura awarded dark sky sanctuary status". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "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.
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Category:2024 establishments in New Zealand Category:Dark-sky preserves in New Zealand Category:Kaikōura District

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