Stewart Island/Rakiura lighting rules
Why do we want to manage lighting on Stewart lsland/Rakiura?
Stewart lsland/Rakiura is now designated a Dark Sky Sanctuary, which is an internationally recognised status acknowledging 'our Island' as having one of the darkest skies in the world.
This unique status offers many economic, social and environmental benefits to Stewart lsland/Rakiura and the wider Southland District. The District Plan has a set of lighting rules specific to Stewart lsland/Rakiura which seek to protect the unique dark night sky now and into the future. This page provides information on how to meet the District Plan lighting rules. (Note: Rules apply to new lights and not existing lights.)
What does the District Plan Require?
The District Plan requires lights to be fully shielded; lightspill to not go above the horizontal plane; outdoor lights to be directed away from adjoining boundaries; and lights to not exceed a prescribed level of brightness.
To meet these requirements:
- ensure lights are angled downwards
- install fully shielded lights
- install lights with motion sensor detection
- install warm white lights.
Fully shielded lights
The District Plan requires lights to be fully shielded. These are lights with a solid barrier or cap on the top of the fixture which contains the light itself (bulb). By being located underneath the barrier or cap, all light spill will then be directed downwards.
Warm white lights
The District Plan requires you to install lights which are ‘warm white’ – also technically referred to as lights which are less than 3000K colour correlated temperature. You can identify the correct coloured lights by looking for ‘warm white’ written on the label or box and, in some instances, the temperature value will be shown eg 3000K or 2700K.
What if I can’t meet the District Plan rules?
If you cannot meet the District Plan rules you will need to apply for a resource consent. When processing your application, Council will consider the impact of your proposal on the environment.
Your resource consent will need the following information, at a minimum, to enable a Council Planner to assess it properly and make a decision on whether or not you can install your chosen lights.
- What type of lights are being installed
• type of light fixtures used
• number of lights to be installed
• location of the lights on the property or building
• temperature value reading of the lights to be installed eg 4000K
• predicted amount of light spill on a site boundary or above the horizontal plane (if not shielded). This may need to be measured using specialist lighting design software.