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town. They are typically not able to take off again, making them vulnerable to being run over by vehicles or succumbing to predation by dogs or cats. Conservation organisations in Kaikōura rescue stranded birds for later release, and advocate for reduced lighting. Work on improving protection for the Hutton's shearwater began in 2020.
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A volunteer group, the Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust, was a registered as a charity in New
Zealand in 2022, to work towards accreditation of an dark-sky preserve in the Kaikōura area. The trust was established with seed funding provided by the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery alliance.
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in New
Zealand. It is the only seabird in the world that breeds in an alpine environment. The birds fly at night, but can become disoriented by bright lights. Fledglings are particularly vulnerable. They leave their nesting burrows in the mountains in the dark, and can crash-land on roads in the
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In 2024, the Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust submitted a plan change request to the
District Council, seeking changes to council regulations about lighting. These changes have been adopted, and apply to new build projects and when lighting is being replaced.
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The designation was announced on 11 September 2024. At the time of the announcement, it was only the 22 location world-wide to receive this recognition. Kaikōura is the third dark sky sanctuary to be accredited in New
Zealand, after
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A public or private land that has an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is protected for its scientific, natural, or educational value, its cultural heritage, and/or public
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said that the dark-sky reserve initiative had the full support of the council, and would be a boost to tourist numbers, especially during the winter period.
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for designation as an
International Dark Sky Sanctuary in August 2024. A dark sky sanctuary is a type of dark sky place defined as:
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of New
Zealand. It covers an area of 2,039 km (787 sq mi), representing around 98% of the District, excluding the
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A key driver for the establishment of a dark-sky preserve in the Kaikōura area was to help protect the Hutton's shearwater (
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in 2019. The Trust plans to apply for the Kaikōura township to be recognised with international dark sky community status.
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The Kaikōura Dark Sky
Sanctuary has a pristine night sky, providing particularly clear viewing of the
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township. The Kaikōura Dark Sky
Sanctuary was accredited as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary by
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in
September 2024. Kaikōura is the third dark sky sanctuary to be accredited in New Zealand.
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196:. This bird is found in waters around Australia and New Zealand but it only breeds in the
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572:"'Pristine night skies': Kaikōura plans to dim the lights with DarkSky application"
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539:"Dark sky reserve in Kaikōura could save Hutton's Shearwater birds, boost tourism"
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The initiative was funded as part of the recovery phase from the 7.8 magnitude
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galaxy. The average night sky luminance is 21.58 mag/arcsec (corresponding to
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638:"Kaikōura recognised as New Zealand's latest Dark Sky Sanctuary"
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670:"2024 DarkSky Sanctuary Application to DarkSky International"
605:"Tougher lighting rules aim to protect Kaikōura's night sky"
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Kowhai Valley and
Shearwater Stream Important Bird Area
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435:"Charity Summary: Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust"
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672:. Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust. August 2024.
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94:2,039 km (787 sq mi)
1022:2024 establishments in New Zealand
636:Davies, Lisa (12 September 2024).
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264:Reagan, Drew (11 September 2024).
174:Protection for Hutton's shearwater
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1012:Dark-sky preserves in New Zealand
537:Lourens, Marine (19 April 2022).
509:Hill, David (12 September 2024).
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551:from the original on 23 May 2022
297:Allen, Ian (12 September 2024).
16:Dark sky preserve in New Zealand
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570:Hill, David (20 August 2024).
368:Allott, Amber (5 March 2021).
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603:Hill, David (11 March 2024).
205:Application for accreditation
214:in 2016. In April 2022, the
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473:Reid, Joy (16 April 2022).
132:Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary
24:Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary
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912:Facilities and attractions
899:Waiau Toa / Clarence River
458:: CS1 maint: url-status (
241:Aotea Great Barrier Island
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981:1886 SS Taiaroa grounding
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401:Hart, Maia (1 May 2021).
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991:2016 Kaikōura earthquake
919:Hikurangi Marine Reserve
110:Kaikoura Dark Sky Trust
700:"Dark Sky Place types"
245:Stewart Island/Rakiura
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198:Seaward Kaikōura Range
75:42.26306°S 173.67472°E
704:DarkSky International
686:DarkSky International
343:DarkSky International
270:DarkSky International
227:DarkSky International
152:DarkSky International
986:1978 Kaikoura lights
80:-42.26306; 173.67472
819:Geographic features
212:Kaikōura earthquake
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838:Kaikōura Peninsula
439:Charities Services
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216:Mayor of Kaikōura
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889:Kowhai River
884:Hāpuku River
879:Conway River
709:13 September
707:. Retrieved
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684:– via
680:12 September
678:. Retrieved
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243:in 2017 and
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163:Bortle scale
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144:South Island
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858:Mount Fyffe
768:New Zealand
78: /
66:173°40′29″E
54:Coordinates
1006:Categories
948:Government
894:Oaro River
419:24 October
266:"Kaikōura"
251:References
234:enjoyment.
99:Designated
63:42°15′47″S
826:Landforms
805:Kekerengu
159:Milky Way
800:Kaikōura
795:Clarence
781:Kaikōura
674:Archived
648:Archived
621:12 April
615:Archived
582:Archived
549:Archived
491:17 April
485:Archived
454:cite web
413:Archived
380:Archived
347:Archived
309:Archived
148:Kaikōura
48:Kaikōura
33:Location
974:History
142:in the
115:Website
872:Rivers
643:1 News
555:23 May
480:1 News
960:Mayor
610:Stuff
544:Stuff
408:Stuff
375:Stuff
304:Stuff
134:is a
810:Oaro
777:Seat
711:2024
682:2024
656:2024
623:2024
590:2024
557:2022
524:2024
493:2022
460:link
446:2024
421:2021
388:2021
355:2024
317:2024
277:2024
190:tītī
165:3).
130:The
102:2024
91:Area
577:RNZ
122:.nz
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