The Milky Way rises over the Wairarapa on the North Island of New Zealand. The lights from the towns of Masterton, Carterton, Greytown, Martinborough and Featherston can be seen in the image from left to right.

Dark skies aren't gloomy skies as far as Martinborough people are concerned and they aim to keep them that way

Limiting street light pollution in the town has brought the whole South Wairarapa one step closer to being designated a dark sky reserve.

The council's commitment to using a softer, warmer white 3000 Kelvin light, instead of the more light polluting 4000 standard used in other parts of the country, has contributed to Martinborough being the first town in New Zealand to achieve a "3K City" classification.

PIERS FULLER/STUFF Enzo Fuller looks through a telescope at the moon. The Wellington Astronomical Society held a viewing evening in Martinborough last spring.

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Astronomers and astrophotographers say the "3K City" classification awarded by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) will help preserve the region's world class dark skies.

Martinborough Dark Sky Society president Lee Mauger said they were excited about the pace of progress.

Mark Gee - markg.com.au Astonomers and astrophotographers want South Wairarapa to be designated a dark sky reserve. The Milky Way can be seen over Cape Palliser Lighthouse.

"It has taken our group just three months to clear the first major hurdle towards reaching global dark sky reserve status, the gold standard for dark sky regions world-wide."

They hoped the approval would accelerate their application to certify a substantial area of more than 1550 sq km area of the South Wairarapa as an IDA reserve.

Association director of conservation John Barentine said the recognition was a major step in the right direction.

MARK GEE Night skies above Cape Palliser in South Wairarapa.

"Martinborough is now officially listed among our '3K Cities' on the IDA website. We're very pleased by this outcome."

Mauger acknowledged the "massive support" given to the dark sky development group by the South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) and New Zealand Transport Agency.

The council had persuaded neighbouring councils Carterton and Masterton to support the application by also agreeing to adopt 3000K lighting, even though they were outside the proposed reserve area.

South Wairarapa Mayor VIv Napier described as "heartening" the "additional dark buffer around our already substantial 1550 square kilometre proposed reserve area".

The transport agency had also agreed to install the warmer 3000 Kelvin street and road lighting on its Wairarapa routes. This will happen by July.

A "Dark Sky Friendly" certification will be launched soon for local businesses, accommodation providers and producers.

It would help regional businesses demonstrate their commitment, and provide an easy way for "Dark Sky Tourists'' and the local community to find supporting organisations to visit, Mauger said.

Other New Zealand regions are also working to keep their night skies from being blown out by light pollution.

Dunedin's Night Sky City initiative has also moved to adopt 3K lights, though being a much larger city means they have to take into account a wider variety of sources of light pollution.

Mayor Dave Cull praised Martinborough's efforts and said it was worthwhile for any town to consider the benefits of less harsh LED lighting.

"We've got these wonderful spectacles in the heavens and in Dunedin's case we can see aurora as well. Keeping light pollution down enables us to see that so much better," he said.