 | |
 | |
| Location | Northeast of the much larger D'Urville Island
South Island New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°39′56″S 174°00′00″E / 40.6655°S 174.0000°E |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1894  |
| Construction | White cast iron tower |
| Automated | 1989 |
| Height | 15 metres (49 ft) |
| Markings | white |
| Power source | solar power |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1894 |
| Focal height | 183 metres (600 ft) |
| Light source | 50 watt tungsten halogen bulb |
| Range | 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi) |
| Characteristic | Flashes white once every six seconds |
The Stephens Island / Takapourewa lighthouse is one of New Zealand most powerful lights with a range of 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi).[1] Perched 183 metres (600 ft) up, on top of Stephens Island, it guards Cook Strait and Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere, at the top of the South Island / Te Wai Pounamu.The light flashes white once every six seconds from a white cast iron tower.[2]
The light is operated remotely from Maritime New Zealand's Wellington office.[3] It was first lit on 29 January 1894,[4] and did not become automated until 31 March 1989, one of the last in New Zealand to be automated.[5]
Entry to the site and tower is by permit only, because it is part of the Stephens Island Nature Reserve, managed by the Department of Conservation.[6] Today it is home to tuatara, no people and an urban myth about a cat named Tibbles.
- ^ Newport, J. N. W. "Nelson Lighthouses, Nelson Historical Society Journal". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- ^ New Zealand Marine Division. "New Zealand nautical almanac". New Zealand Nautical Almanac. ISSN 0112-1448. OCLC 11732690.
- ^ "Stephens Island lighthouse - Maritime NZ". www.maritimenz.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- ^ "By Telegraph". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ "Stephens Island". www.newzealandlighthouses.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of New Zealand: South Island". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 29 June 2019.