Great Barrier’s star status
An off-the-grid Auckland island has been named an International Dark Sky Sanctuary – the first island in the world to receive that status.
Great Barrier Island, about 100km northeast of Auckland’s CBD, received the honour from the International Dark-Sky Association.
The association deemed the isolated island as having an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights.
Before granting the status, the association scientifically measured the darkness of the island’s sky and standards.
Much of Great Barrier Island was ’off the grid’ and about 950 residents live without reticulated power. There are no traffic lights, supermarkets or ATMs, meaning there was little light pollution.
Many residents run their outdoor lighting homes on solar power and used wood burners or stoves for heat.
The community’s focus on protecting and preserving the island’s natural beauty made it the ‘‘ideal’’ location to receive International Dark Sky Sanctuary status, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said.
‘‘Great Barrier Island is a place of rugged beauty and untouched wilderness, and is one of the most tranquil and unspoilt places in the wider Auckland region.’’
The island was the third place in the world to be designated a sanctuary. The other two sanctuaries are in New Mexico and Chile.
‘‘Great Barrier Island is a place of rugged beauty and untouched wilderness. ’’
Phil Goff, Auckland mayor