Tāhuna Glenorchy becomes New Zealand’s fifth International Dark Sky Sanctuary
The Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Sky Sanctuary was certified as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary by DarkSky International, making it the fifth International Dark Sky Sanctuary to be certified in New Zealand and 23rdworldwide. Located in New Zealand’s astronomical sweet spot on the 45th parallel and within an hour’s drive of Queenstown, it will be one of the rare places on the planet to see the Total Solar Eclipse in 2028, and the only designated International Dark Sky Sanctuary in its path.
Located at the head of Lake Whakatipu and encompassing 200,000 hectares stretching from Bennett’s Bluff to the northern boundary of Mt Aspiring National Park and bounded by the Humbolt and Richardson mountains, over 75% of the Sanctuary falls into UNESCO Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Wilderness. The Routeburn, Greenstone-Caples and Rees-Dart tracks all fall within its limits. The Sanctuary surrounds the townships of Glenorchy and Kinloch and in the coming year, they will be brought into the International Dark Sky Places program as an International Dark Sky Community in an approach similar to the Kaikoura International Dark Sky Sanctuary certified in 2024.
Coupled with the extensive conservation work in the same area, the Dark Sky Sanctuary above will reflect the existing conservation sanctuary below for the first time. This will provide a rare haven for those who want to do the Great Walks during the day, encounter a newly released takahē at dusk, and lay out under the Milky Way at night to marvel at the night skies from the shore of one of the deepest lakes in New Zealand, look out from the comfort of Glenorchy’s range of accommodation, or see the stars from atop snowy mountain peaks.
“Congratulations to the Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Sky Group on this achievement! This award highlights the group’s commitment to preserving the pristine night skies and the natural environment within this UNESCO World Heritage site and gateway to the iconic Routeburn Track. With the support of local dark sky advocates, environmental stewards, and the Queenstown Lakes District Council, this initiative will ensure that the Sanctuary remains a haven for stargazers and nature lovers. We are excited to welcome Tāhuna Glenorchy as the newest International Dark Sky Sanctuary and look forward to future collaboration,” remarked Amber Harrison, International Dark Sky Places Program Manager.
One of the Sanctuary’s key aims is to engage with Kāi Tahu (Ngāi Tahu) to improve everyone’s understanding of Mātauraka Kāi Tahu and to come to understand the knowledge that is held in the planets and the stars that have helped guide countless previous generations.
Kāi Tahu ki Tuawhenua Representative Jana Davis said, “There are different ways māori refer to our stars, ngā whetū (stars), or tīpuna whetū (ancestral stars), or whetū mārama (bright and beautiful stars!), and they hold deep significance for Kāi Tahu whānau. These same stars guided our tīpuna (ancestors) from Hawaiki across the vast Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa (Pacific Ocean), weaving stories that transcend space and time. As Kāi Tahu whānau, we are dedicated to protecting these pristine night skies and our taiao (environment). They are a taoka (precious), connecting mātauraka Māori from our tīpuna to our mokopuna (descendants). The Dark Sky Sanctuary ensures these stories and connections will endure for generations to come.
It is exciting to see the resurgence of this knowledge and celebration as we enter our fourth year of recognising Matariki as a New Zealand public holiday. Last year, Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou held the Hautapu ceremony for Matariki at Treble Cone, offering to the stars, and we called out the names of our loved ones who have passed on, it was beautiful. Initiatives like Glenorchy’s Dark Sky Sanctuary will continue to deepen our understanding and connection to the awe and wonder that is our universe.”
The Sanctuary will also be a major regenerative tourism driver for the Tāhuna Glenorchy community and wider area.
Mayor Glyn Lewers said, “This is a fantastic achievement for this small community and represents the protection of our remarkable night skies for generations to come. Light pollution globally increases year on year and approximately 80% of the world’s population can no longer see the Milky Way. The creation of the Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Sky Sanctuary provides an unrivalled opportunity to reflect on the impact of light pollution on human health, astronomical research, our understanding of mātauraka Māori, our energy use and the impact on our environment and nocturnal species.
Queenstown Lakes is a big tourism destination, and we need to encourage a slower, regenerative form of visitation – we’re looking forward to welcoming future astro-tourists to stay longer, tread lightly and enjoy the wonder of our night skies.
Thanks must go to the tremendous efforts of the team involved in making this happen. This milestone marks the creation of the first inland sanctuary of its kind, a significant accomplishment for all those who have contributed.”
“We’ve had an amazing group from the community who’ve worked on this project for the last 5 years,” says Chair Dr. Leslie Van Gelder, “While none of us knew anything about astronomy at the start, our team of 12 spanning three generations, have upskilled in brilliant ways learning about lighting, moths and bats, staying up late measuring darkness, holding community events and the annual Matariki dinner, going to star courses, and partnering in with the QLDC [Queenstown Lakes District Council] Libraries and Tūhuru Otago Museum for talks and educational programs for the whole community. Glenorchy got in behind us and we’ve had huge support all the way through. It has truly taken a village and it’s all just beginning for us.”
The group has also been funded through LoveQT to work with the Southern Lakes Sanctuary to do a study in the Rees Valley looking for the elusive short-tailed bat while also developing a bat monitoring program within the township to match their dark sky measurement program. The Department of Conservation’s support has been integral to the project, with hut rangers helping take dark sky readings in remote parts of the Sanctuary.
David Butt, Pou Matarautaki Operations Manager – Whakatipu-wai-Māori, Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation, said, “DOC was excited to support the application of the Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Sky Sanctuary and our hut rangers played an important role in taking the necessary light readings in difficult to access areas. The Department of Conversation manages a large part of the new sanctuary, with Mt. Aspiring National Park straddling the spectacular mountains and valleys at the southern end of the Southern Alps/ Kā Tiritiri o te Moana – renowned for its exceptional beauty and large core of wilderness. The new designation will further protect these values into the future.”
Chair of Winterstellar and founder of the nearby Kawarau Gibbston Dark Sky Park, Professor Brian Boyle, noted the special nature of the Sanctuary’s location. “Only 10,000 people on the planet live under dark skies where the aurora and centre of our galaxy can readily be seen. This recognition of Tāhuna-Glenrochy as a Dark Sky Sanctuary is thus not only of immeasurable importance to the protection of this resource, but to its promotion as a strategic benefit to residents and visitors alike.”
As part of the Winterstellar program to create Dark Skies across Otago, Tāhuna Glenorchy was also named their first Astronomical Site in 2024.
Naylani Davies, President of Dark Sky International said, “I’m very pleased to learn that Tāhuna Glenorchy has been certified as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. This prestigious designation recognizes the pristine darkness of local skies and also the efforts undertaken by the Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Skies group fully supported by Queenstown Lakes District Council. This has led to the reduction of artificial light at night as well as its long-term control, thereby protecting the nighttime environment for other species to flourish and the starry night sky for us, as well as future generations, to enjoy. Tāhuna Glenorchy’s accreditation is a significant step in our collective journey to make New Zealand the world’s first Dark Sky Nation.”
The Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Sky Group is a subgroup of the Glenorchy Heritage and Museum Group. More information can be found at their website https://glenorchydarkskies.org.nz or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/glenorchydarkskies/
About DarkSky International:
The mission of DarkSky is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. Learn more at darksky.org
About the International Dark Sky Places Program:
Founded in 2001, the International Dark Sky Places Program is a non-regulatory and voluntary program encouraging communities, parks, and protected areas worldwide to preserve and protect dark sites through effective lighting policies, environmentally responsible outdoor lighting, and public education. When used indiscriminately, artificial light can disrupt ecosystems, impact human health, waste money and energy, contribute to climate change, and block our view and connection to the universe. The Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Sky Sanctuary now joins more than 230 Places that have demonstrated robust community support for dark sky advocacy and strive to protect the night from light pollution. Learn more by visiting https://darksky.org/what-we-do/international-dark-sky-places/
Contacts:
Tāhuna Glenorchy:
Leslie Van Gelder
Chair Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Skies Group
+64 (0)27-748-9153
[email protected]
DarkSky International:
Amber Harrison
Dark Sky Places Program Manager
+1 (520) 347 6363
[email protected]
