Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve
LocationWairarapa, New Zealand
Nearest townMartinborough
Area3,665 km2 (1,415 sq mi)
Designated2023
Governing bodyInternational Dark-Sky Association
Websitewww.wairarapadarksky.nz

The Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve is an International Dark Sky Reserve in the Wairarapa region in the southern part of the North Island of New Zealand. The reserve was designated by the International Dark-Sky Association in January 2023. It was the second dark sky reserve to be certified in New Zealand (after the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve was recognised in 2012). The area covered by the reserve is 3,665 km2 (1,415 sq mi) and includes the Aorangi Forest Park, and the South Wairarapa and Carterton Districts.[1][2]

The reserve is certified as an International Dark Sky Reserve, requiring a dark "core" zone that is surrounded by a populated area where policy controls protect the darkness of the core. For the Wairarapa reserve, the dark core is the entire area of the Aorangi Forest Park in the south of the reserve.[2]

History

Proposals for a dark sky reserve in the South Wairarapa District were initially developed in 2017 and presented to an initial public meeting in Martinborough.[3] In 2018, consultation about the proposals included the Carterton and Masterton districts. At that time, the mayor of Carterton stated that their lighting already complied with the standards, and that they would join with the South Wairarapa District in making an application for designation.[4]

The certification in 2023 by the International Dark-Sky Association was the result of 5 years of volunteer work by the Wairarapa Dark Sky Association Incorporated (a registered charity in New Zealand),[5] and the South Wairarapa and Carterton district councils, together with other local interested parties.[6][7]

In 2023, the Masterton District Council, governing an area of 2,298 km2 (887 sq mi) adjacent to the designated reserve, began planning and consultation for potentially expanding the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve to include the Masterton District. The work involved in making an application will include dark sky measurements and photos, a plan for lighting, and reductions in artificial lighting including changes to types of lighting and installation of shields.[8]

References

  1. ^ Bunny, Sara (21 March 2023). "Wairarapa becomes official Dark Sky stargazing reserve". NZ Herald. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve (New Zealand)". International Dark-Sky Association. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  3. ^ Fuller, Piers (5 October 2017). "Dark sky reserve proposed for South Wairarapa". Stuff. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  4. ^ Fuller, Piers (13 November 2018). "A Wairarapa dark sky reserve would be world's largest". Stuff. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Charity summary: Wairarapa Dark Sky Association Incorporated". Charities Services. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  6. ^ Fuller, Piers (19 January 2023). "New Zealand's newest dark sky reserve gets international sign off". Stuff. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve Becomes New Zealand's Second International Dark Sky Reserve". International Dark-Sky Association. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  8. ^ Judson, Kate (22 May 2023). "Eyeing 'dark sky' spend". Wairarapa Times-Age. Retrieved 3 February 2024.

External links

Carterton District, New Zealand
South Wairarapa District, New Zealand
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