Castlepoint lighthouse to be bathed in colour
What better way to celebrate Christmas Eve than by lighting up a Wairarapa coastal icon in vibrant festive hues.
Plans are afoot to bathe Castlepoint lighthouse in colour as a permanent evening show for the ever-increasing number of tourists visiting the landmark.
The permanent lighting display was the idea of Masterton’s John Keen.
He has had a life-time connection with the East Coast township.
Keen set up a temporary colour show for the lighthouse’s centennial in 2013 and thought it would be great if people could see such a display all year round.
‘‘The reason we’re putting it on every night is because Castlepoint’s been changing in the last few years. Visitors come here throughout the week and it’s become an international destination,’’ he said.
Keen has been working with technicians and relevant authorities to drive the project along.
‘‘It’s taken 18 months of pulling things together, which includes getting the hardware installed and negotiating agreements,’’ he said.
Modern LED lighting technology means they can shine virtually any colour of the spectrum on the grand old lady of the coast.
The display, which will be officially launched on Christmas Eve, can even be controlled remotely by a wireless radio link.
The lighting was not going to be a gaudy affair but rather a slowly building transition that was sensitive to the majesty of the 104-year-old structure, Keen said.
His display would initially offer an hour of rotating hues but the lighthouse would also be lit in white to show off its original colour.
Subsequent periods of no lighting would showcase its rotating beam to best effect.
A camera set up on an outcrop overlooking the lighthouse already gives people a chance to see the landmark in all its glory, thanks to a live feed being broadcast online.
It is the North Island’s tallest lighthouse, standing 52 metres above sea level, and one of only two left in New Zealand with a rotating beam.
One of the stipulations of the installation is that the coloured lighting is not visible to maritime traffic from the eastern side of the tower, Keen said.
Jim Foye, of Maritime New Zealand, has given the initiative the thumbs-up. ‘‘Thanks to good old Kiwi ingenuity and community support, visitors at Castlepoint will see a magical display these holidays.’’
It is estimated that the project has cost around $35,000.
Masterton District Council gave a grant of $20,000 towards the display. The Castlepoint Ratepayers’ and Residents Association had donated $5500 and will cover any ongoing costs.