North Canterbury News: February 26, 2021
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NEWS<br />
4 <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>February</strong> 25, <strong>2021</strong><br />
Momentum builds<br />
for dark sky project<br />
By ROBYN BRISTOW<br />
Adark sky projectinKaikoura,if<br />
successful, could provide aprecious<br />
winter boost to tourism operators.<br />
It will also be alegacy to the work of<br />
the <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> Transport<br />
InfrastructureRecovery team(NCTIR).<br />
AKaikoura Dark Sky Reserve<br />
Working Grouphas takenoverfrom<br />
NCTIRtolead aproject establishinga<br />
dark sky reserve above Kaikoura,<br />
bringing to life the vision of its project<br />
manager, Tony Gallagher.<br />
About50people attended a<br />
presentation on the concept recently,<br />
wherework already done on thereserve<br />
was outlined along with what regulatory<br />
toolsmight be needed to protectthe<br />
nightsky from light pollution.<br />
Working groupleader Nicky<br />
McArthur said the presentation was<br />
aimedatgetting community support,<br />
finding funding options, and looking at<br />
what tools might be neededtohelp<br />
darken the skiesbystemming the flow<br />
of light from the town.<br />
She saysastrotourism opportunities<br />
wouldbehigh during the winter, which<br />
is traditionally theoff seasonfor<br />
tourism in Kaikoura.<br />
This would boostthe local economy<br />
and highlight thecultural significance<br />
of Matariki and Maorilore.<br />
‘‘Kaikoura has the opportunity to<br />
make the mostofdark sky tourism, with<br />
aunique story of mountains to thesea,<br />
and to the sky,’’she says.<br />
Apreapplicationhas already been<br />
lodged withthe InternationalDarkSky<br />
Association (IDA), and movesare afoot<br />
to prepareamain application.<br />
Nicky says the concept has been given<br />
aboost by NCTIR, whichfunded three<br />
monitors.Resultshave already shown<br />
there is ‘‘some outstanding darkness’’.<br />
The councilsupports the projectin<br />
principle, and there is growing support<br />
in the community.<br />
The Royal Astronomical Societyof<br />
New Zealand, the University of<br />
<strong>Canterbury</strong> and the IDA are alsobehind<br />
the project.<br />
Nicky saysthere is an urgency to push<br />
on with the projectand lobby the<br />
council to considerregulations on<br />
lightingwhen subdivision plans and<br />
building activity arelodged with the<br />
local authority.<br />
She says the dark sky concept goes<br />
beyondthe enjoyment that humans<br />
would get fromareserve.<br />
‘‘Nocturnal species are threatened by<br />
light pollution and many arefacing<br />
extinction. Losing our mothsand<br />
insects fromthe bottomofthe food web<br />
is havinghuge impacts worldwide,’’<br />
Nicky says.<br />
The presentation, hosted by the<br />
working party and the Kaikoura<br />
Museum, started with ashort slide show<br />
from the evolving working group of<br />
Nicky,DrLarry Field and Will Doughty,<br />
who is Kaikoura’s new chief executive.<br />
Guest speakers included Kyra Xavia,<br />
aresearcher, writer, and dark sky<br />
advocate basedinDunedin; andJohn<br />
Hearnshaw, aNew Zealand astronomer<br />
and Emeritus Professor of Astronomy at<br />
the University of <strong>Canterbury</strong>.<br />
Nicky says adark sky reservedoes not<br />
mean ‘‘we are going to be in the dark’’.<br />
Anyoneinterested in the concept is<br />
asked to jointhe journey.<br />
Culinary delights ...<br />
The Kaiapoi Food Forest’s Wellbeing Festival keeps getting bigger.<br />
PHOTO:BRENT CAIRNS<br />
Festival has something for all<br />
By DAVID HILL<br />
The WellbeingFestival in theKaiapoi<br />
Food Forest this Saturday is set to be the<br />
biggest.<br />
OrganiserBrentCairnssays this year’s<br />
festival hasthe largest numberof<br />
stallholders in the event’s history.<br />
‘‘Wellbeing is all aboutconnecting,trying<br />
new things, learning, and being more<br />
active, so at our event we are going to have<br />
so manythings for people to be involved<br />
with.<br />
‘‘We havedemonstrations thatweare<br />
encouraging peopletoget involved in —<br />
weaving,pottery, floral art, edible weeds,to<br />
name afew.<br />
‘‘Weare lookingfor asmall sponsor to<br />
helpwithfundingsome of the activities, so<br />
if anyone can help and your business wants<br />
to get some great exposure, thenplease<br />
giveusacall.’’<br />
Theteam at Mike Pero Kaiapoi, Janine<br />
and Rob Duke, are providing abouncy<br />
castle, while Poppy Dewdrop is bringinga<br />
merrygoround and all sortsofthingsto<br />
keepthe youngones happy, including facepainters.<br />
Someoflast year’s favouritessuch as<br />
Rolled Penguin ice creams and Villa Del<br />
Venta cakesare returning, Brentsays.<br />
‘‘This is azero waste event, so please<br />
bring yourown cup, plate, cutlery and, of<br />
course, asmile.’’<br />
CANTERBURY<br />
AGAINST<br />
measles<br />
Measles is much more contagious than COVID-19.<br />
Aged 15-30? Get your free immunisation<br />
at GPs orparticipating pharmacies.
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