How do the lighthouses operate without someone there to run them?
For the past few years most of New Zealand's lighthouses have been "SMART". This means that the lighthouse engineer can tell by a computer link whether or not any doors have been opened in any of the lighthouses, how much power is stored in their batteries, when the generators need to be run and when lights have malfunctioned. Many of these things can be remedied from Wellington at the press of the mouse button. The engineers call it "Mouse Power".
How often are lighthouses maintained?
Every six months contractors carry out routine maintenance. Sometimes
(especially for island or very remote lighthouses) helicopters or
boats have to be used to get to the lighthouses. The rest of the
time they can be accessed by 4WD.
Which lighthouses can I visit in New Zealand?
Publicly accessible lighthouses in New Zealand:
- Cape Reinga
- Tiritiri Matangi Island
- East Cape
- Castle Point
- Cape Palliser
- Pencarrow Head
- Somes Island
- Nelson Boulder Bank
- Akaroa Head
- Katiki Point
- Nugget Point
- Waipapa Point
- Farewell Spit
- Cape Egmont
- Cape Foulwind
Can I get inside any lighthouses in New Zealand?
No. Maritime New Zealand does not allow people to enter the lighthouses,
firstly to protect people from harm (falling down stairs, etc) and
secondly to protect sensitive equipment.
Can I arrange to stay in a lighthouse?
No. Very few New Zealand lighthouses had accommodation inside the
lighthouse. Separate houses were usually built nearby to house the
lighthouse keepers and their families, and these are not available
for rent or holiday use for a number of reasons having to do with
health and safety responsibilities and land ownership.
Which is the tallest lighthouse in New Zealand?
Dog Island at 36 metres, built in 1865. As it was built on a very
low-lying island, it had to be very high so it could be seen from
ships far away.
How far does a lighthouse's light-beam shine?
It depends on the power of the light-source and size of the optical
apparatus. Most lights shine 27 nautical miles (50km). The most
powerful light ever in New Zealand was Tiritiri Matangi Island when
a xenon light source was fitted in 1956. It had an output of 11,000,000-candle
power, making it one of the most powerful lights in the world at
that time. Its range was 58 nautical miles (107km).
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