The space that launched a thousand steps

Five years ago, a small group of volunteers known as the Wairarapa Dark Sky Association (WDSA) gathered under the Wairarapa night sky. They knew they had something special and wanted to protect it.. If they could get the land recognised as a Dark Sky Reserve, then this starry sanctuary would be preserved for humans and wildlife alike - a place where the naked eye can see the Milky Way, where plants and animals can rely on natural light rhythms, and future generations can look to the stars and ponder the universe. But the question remained, how to do it? 

That’s where we came in. The South Wairarapa District Council, alongside Carterton District Council, asked us for help to support the Wairarapa Dark Sky Association. Led by Principal Planner Debbie Donaldson, our goal was to remove the barriers to getting certification from the International Dark Sky Association (IDA). Recognition from the IDA would bring great benefits to the region – safeguarding culture, improving the economy, educating people and creating jobs. Time was against us, and the district didn’t currently meet the IDA guidelines. Light pollution was the biggest threat.

“Light pollution disrupts wildlife, impacts human health, wastes money and energy, contributes to climate change, and blocks our view of the universe".  darksky.org

First, we found the problem. Balance. Buildings and outdoor areas need enough lighting to be safe and functional, but in ways that reduce light pollution and preserve the darkness of the night sky. We researched the options carefully, lining them up to the guidelines. The solution we recommended was public education and changes to the Combined District Plan. This would give control over future light pollution and meet IDA guidelines.
 
The journey of a thousand steps had well and truly begun. We managed the project and prepared the Combined District Plan change, working with many different groups to make it happen. People are changing outdoor lighting at their homes and businesses to reduce light pollution, street lights changed, lighthouses are being shielded, and the Department of Conservation (DOC) changed exterior lighting on huts in Aorangi Forest Park. A clear view of the universe was in our sights.
 
In June of 2023, the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve was approved. It’s the newest and biggest reserve on the planet, the second in New Zealand, and one of only 22 reserves in the world. We’re proud of what we helped the district achieve - the ‘gold standard’ of dark sky places.