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Earth & Sky News
4th August 2010: Plans for a world starlight heritage reserve in the Mackenzie moves a step closer after Brasilia meeting
New Zealand is right on track to create one of the world’s first world heritage starlight reserve above the South Island’s Mackenzie country after a key meeting in Brasilia yesterday.
Former Cabinet minister Margaret Austin said the UNESCO world heritage committee approved support for monuments and sites, landscapes and cultural landscapes associated with astronomy to be recognised as part of human heritage.
The NZ delegation, including two Department of Conservation staff, helped persuade the committee to approve a thematic study which argued stars and planets were part of natural heritage and the sky was a cultural resource common to natural heritage.
However, Austin said from Brasilia today there was still a long road before protecting the world’s starry nights with dark sky reserves. She said New Zealand’s contribution from the Royal Society of NZ, the Royal Astronomical Society of NZ and UNESCO NZ was acknowledged at the Brasilia meeting.
"The thematic study was regarded as a cornerstone project of UNESCO’s International Year of Astronomy 2009. As a member of the New Zealand observer team I was able to make a brief intervention in support of the study."
"The World Heritage Committee has adopted a decision covering the astronomy and world heritage thematic study to disseminate the study among the member states.
"Consequently the first step on the long road to nomination is achieved. Now New Zealand must prepare a detailed document, providing the evidence of outstanding universal value, its integrity and authenticity for the site, obtain the approval of all the parties concerned and adoption by the New Zealand Government in order to eventually present the case for the Lake Tekapo Aoraki/Mt Cook initiative as a `window to the universe’.’’
The New Zealand project proposes that the landscape and the skies above Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mt Cook in the Mackenzie district become a starlight reserve.
Few places remain in the world where people can enjoy the stars pollution free. Fifty percent of the world's people no longer see the stars, those places that do, had got a responsibility to preserve them as the world was fast losing opportunities to observe the night sky, Austin said.
Media advisory: For further information, comment, photos, camera, or interviews contact Margaret Austin on 0274 923 244 or Kip Brook of Word of Mouth Media NZ on 0275 033855
16th July 2010: Tekapo's night sky and why it is so special featured on the Nine To Noon programme on Radio New Zealand National. You can download the 3.9MB podcast in MP3 format by clicking here.
16th July 2010: Professor John Hearnshaw of Canterbury University spoke about about the plan for Tekapo to become a Starlight Reserve on TVNZ Breakfast. You can watch the video by clicking here.
New tour: we are pleased to announce a new product for March 2010 — a Sunset Tour with inclusive refreshments at the Astro Café on Mount John. For more details, please click here.
"Sky-park to be a world first in Tekapo" [3 min. video]: Tekapo is one step closer to becoming the base for the world's first heritage starlight reserve (source: ONE news)
Just a short walk from our former office in the centre of Lake Tekapo township and conveniently situated next door to the new i-Site information centre, our new building has plenty of room to display our growing range of star-themed merchandise as well as providing a comfortable checking-in area.
We look forward to seeing you there!
More media: "New Zealand confirmed as one of five world heritage night sky reserve sites to go to Rio meeting next year" (source: Word of Mouth Media NZ)
"Kiwi found in outer space" (source: National News, TVNZ — see also our Press Release page)
"Tekapo night sky among world's best" (source: The Timaru Herald), "UN backs bid to preserve Lake Tekapo night sky" (source: Radio New Zealand News), "New Zealand town is in the dark — and proud of it" (source: Yahoo! News), "Starlight star bright" (source: The Timaru Herald), "Sky reserve promoted in Paris" (source: Otago Daily Times) and "NZ Bid To Secure Tekapo As A World Night Sky Reserve Needs To Move Fast With Government Support" (source: Voxy.co.nz)
"Tekapo, New Zealand: Best Starllight Make-Out Spot" (source: blackbookmag.com). TVNZ's national news webpage (source: NZPA) highlights "Tekapo sky pushes for heritage status" (video included) and "World-first stargazing for Tekapo". Also, The Telegraph (U.K.) asks "Could New Zealand host the first world heritage site in the sky?" in an article by Kineta Knight.
Fact: A recent AirNZ survey of Japanese tourists revealed that a staggering 72% of them chose to travel to New Zealand for the exceptional stargazing that it offers.
Q&A section: have you a question about the stars, Sun, Moon or planets that you've always puzzled over? We may not have answers to everything, but our experienced Guides will be able to shed light on most of your unresolved astro-related queries at the bottom of our What's Up? page!
It's always gratifying to receive kudos for the work that we do here from guests (please see our feedback page), so when we also receive mention in the New Zealand press and travel guides we like to show our appreciation by sharing the news with you!
New Zealand's AA Travel website also made mention of our stargazing tours, making the top five in its 101 Must-Do Weekend activities for visitors to Lake Tekapo and the Canterbury district.