Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Residents Express Strong Support for Dark Sky Area Initiative

Posted in
on
Residents of Banks Peninsula have overwhelmingly supported a proposal to establish parts of the area as a dark sky reserve, with 85% of nearly 300 respondents favoring the initiative in a survey conducted by local MP Vanessa Weenink. The reserve aims to reduce light pollution, enhancing star visibility while benefiting conservation, public health, and tourism. This initiative will encourage residents to be mindful of their nighttime lighting by adopting measures such as using dimmer bulbs and minimizing outdoor light usage. Akaroa Stargazing owner Luca Devescovi, who has been instrumental in community outreach, noted positive measurements of the sky’s darkness, with a reading of 21.54 magnitudes per square arcsecond, indicating low light pollution levels. The next step involves applying for official dark sky reserve certification, with hopes for a response from Dark Sky International by year-end.

Read More