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Community
Kaikōura, a Dark Sky Sanctuary
Kaikōura, a picturesque coastal town on New Zealand’s South Island, is renowned for its stunning scenery and marine life, including the endangered Hutton’s Shearwater, now found only in this region. Committed to preserving this natural ecosystem, the local authorities launched an initiative in 2020 via the Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust, to become a Dark Sky Sanctuary, which was officially designated on 12th September 2024. Building on this status, they would like the town and surrounding area to become an International Dark Sky Community. In 2021, the town deployed smart lighting technology as part of this goal. Schréder was delighted to accompany the town on this journey by delivering over 400 luminaires controlled by the Schréder EXEDRA lighting platform to strike a balance between public safety and the preservation of the natural night sky. When approached by Mainpower, Kaikōura District Council’s (KDC) lighting operator, we carried out a comprehensive audit of the town’s infrastructure and lighting requirements. We then drew up a detailed lighting plan to comply with lighting standards, ensuring safety in the town and to allow nature to flourish.
Deploying smart lighting in Kaikōura has been extremely rewarding. Not only have we reduced energy costs and light pollution, we’ve also protected our unique natural environment. The Schréder EXEDRA CMS has enabled us to fine-tune our lighting strategy to ensure safety while preserving the pristine night skies that make Kaikōura a Dark Sky Sanctuary.
Just over 400 SASTA LED luminaires have been installed throughout the town. They are fitted with flat glass optics with a 0° tilt to prevent any upward light spill. The luminaires along or near the shores have also been fitted with a light shield to ensure absolutely no light spill onto the sea. The street lights are equipped with either very warm white (2,200K) or warm white (3,000K) LEDs. For example, along the shores, near the habitats and flight paths of the endangered Hutton’s Shearwater, they are fitted with very warm white LEDs because the birds are attracted to bright white light, which disrupts their flight patterns and brings them into the town, where they would be eaten by cats or crushed by cars. All the street lights are managed by the Schréder EXEDRA Central Management System (CMS), which has been programmed to meet KDC’s specific requirements, including on/off times, weather adjustments, and seasonal demand. At night, the luminaires are dimmed by 75%. The performance of the energy-efficient LED street lights and the automated dimming schedules have reduced energy costs by an estimated 55%. Light pollution has been reduced dramatically, without compromising on safety. The positive impact on the environment with exceptional stargazing and the protection of local wildlife, including the endangered Hutton’s Shearwater, are causes we truly believe in.
Olga Joensuu Operations Delivery Manager - Kaikōura District Council
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