If a dark sky reserve is created across all three Wairarapa districts it would encompass an area of almost 6000 square kilometres. Photos: Mark Gee



If Masterton and Carterton districts agree to limit their light pollution Wairarapa could soon be home to the largest dark sky reserve in the world.

Last year South Wairarapa launched its bid to create a dark sky reserve over the southeastern corner of the Lower North Island from Martinborough.

The door has been left open for its northern neighbours Carterton and Masterton to join the party, and by all accounts, they've also got stars in their eyes.

MARK GEE Celebrated night sky photographer Mark Gee took this shot of the the Milky Way rising over Wairarapa. The lights from the towns of Masterton, Carterton, Greytown, Martinborough and Featherston can be seen.

To gain official recognition as a dark sky reserve by the US-based International Dark Sky Association regions must minimise light pollution and maximise community support.

READ MORE:

* Softer lighting sees Martinborough shine the way for dark sky designation

* Dark sky reserve proposed for South Wairarapa

Masterton and Carterton mayors are meeting with Lee Mauger of Martinborough Dark Sky Society this week to discuss whether their respective districts can join South Wairarapa's quest to be recognised.

PIERS FULLER/FAIRFAX NZ Three Wairarapa mayors, John Booth (Carterton), Viv Napier (South Wairarapa) and Lyn Patterson (Masterton) think an expanded dark sky reserve would be fantastic.

Mauger has asked the international body if they can include a "built-in growth plan" in their application which could include expansion.

"We would get the Martinborough region certified and then we open the door for Carterton and Masterton to join if their communities want."

The three councils need to modify their district plans light ordinances to regulate low-polluting warmer hued lighting.

PIERS FULLER/STUFF Backers believe a dark sky reserve will attract tourists from around the world.

The next step would be to convince the New Zealand Transport Agency and Maritime New Zealand to use warmer lighting for their highway lighting and lighthouses respectively.

The transport agency has already agreed to use lower Kelvin lights on its highway into Martinborough to accommodate the dark sky aspirations.

New Zealand's most famous astronomy destination is 4300 sqare kilometre Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve in the South Island which attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year.

If a dark sky reserve was created across all three Wairarapa districts it would encompass an area of almost 6000 square kilometres, making it the largest such reserve in New Zealand.

To make the most of the glorious heavenly vistas John Whitby is building a brand new observatory complex in Martinborough called Star Field.

Carterton has its own astronomical destination in the form of Stonehenge Aotearoa, which is building its own high tech observatory with plans to include New Zealand's biggest publicly accessible telescope.

Carterton mayor John Booth said their new lighting already complies with the standards and they can link in with work being done in South Wairarapa to help them through the process.

"If you just look at what's happening in Tekapo and how people from all over the world travel to see that. The time is great for another area to be developed as a dark sky reserve. Where better than here in the Wairarapa. Let's go for it."

Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson said if the whole Wairarapa was brought into the reserve it would be great for the region.

"It's ideal for it. Beautifully sited between mountains and the sea. We need to make the most of our natural assets."

Wairarapa MP Alastair Scott said it would be another string in the tourism bow to incentivise people to come to the region.

"It would be great to have something like the dark sky because that's an all year round phenomena. It's not just a weekend, or a day or two here and there and it's not seasonal. Not area could claim to have such a large area of dark sky and attract tourists from all over the world."