Tekapo is about to become the world’s first night sky reserve.
Starlight reserve committee spokesman Graeme Murrey said many places overseas have lost touch with the stars, but the Mackenzie Country still had a pristine dark sky. The reserve, which would be a world first, would ensure NZ would be kept on the astronomy and astro-tourism map.
Murrey says that while the reserve has never been created anywhere in the world, he believes the venture will be successful.
Murrey says the aim is to have restrictions on lights in the region, to preserve the beautiful night sky that so many in rural NZ take for granted.