2026 

​​​​​​​Kaikōura State Highway One LED Renewal Project

Designer: Connetics Ltd

Client: New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

Design Brief's / Challenges: 

"The Kaikōura SH1 lighting upgrade demonstrates how road safety, environmental stewardship and dark sky protection can be successfully integrated within a single infrastructure project. Situated along one of New Zealand’s most environmentally significant coastal corridors, the project replaced ageing roadway lighting infrastructure with a modern, energy efficient lighting system designed to minimise ecological impacts while delivering safe and compliant road lighting outcomes."

"A key consideration was the protection of the native Hutton’s shearwater, an endangered seabird species endemic to the Kaikōura region. Artificial lighting can disorient fledgling birds during migration periods, increasing the risk of grounding events and mortality. Simultaneously, the project needed to align with Kaikōura’s dark sky aspirations and community expectations while continuing to meet road safety requirements."

RASNZ DarkSkies Group's Comments:

The Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust Kaikoura Astronomer's Group (Affiliate Member of RASNZ) who gained accreditation for the Kaikoura Dark Sky Sanctuary can take much credit for raising awareness around the impact of highway lighting on sensitive ecosystems.

This year three projects received Highly Commended Awards. These projects were:

City to Sea Pathway, Christchurch Red Zone.

Designer: Connetics

Client: Christchurch City Council

The selected luminaire, the AEC I-Tron Zero, was chosen for its combination of precision optics, 2200K light source, zero upward waste light at 0° tilt, and compatibility with CCC's adaptive lighting platform. The system creates a progressive wave of light that follows pathway users, increasing lighting only where and when required. Luminaires increase to PP2 output when movement is detected before returning to a reduced dimmed level after a configurable delay. Seasonal programming will further reduce operating hours during summer when extended daylight removes the need for evening lighting.

Te Ara Tupua, Ngauranga to Petone, Shared Path.

Designer: S&T Lighting

Client: New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

This lighting awards entry is for the Te Ara Tupua project lighting for the4.5km shared path from the base of the Te Matarae o Wharepouripedestrian bridge to the south and the Petone roundabout to the north and also the five Uranga public spaces along its route. At the core of the lighting design is an uncompromising commitment to public safety, rail safety, darksky preservation, and the protection of fragile coastal ecology. The scheme does not simply respond to its setting; it actively restores and reinforces the coastal nightscape, minimising sky glow, safeguarding ecological systems, and preserving the clarity and depth of the horizon.

Te Whau Pathway, Te Atatu South

Designer: Switch Lighting Design

Client: Auckland Council

Auckland Council (Community Facilities) seeks to establish a 15km shared(pedestrian and cycle) path linking the Waitematā and Manukau Harbours tobe known as the “Te Whau Pathway”. Te Whau Pathway will link Karaka Bay inGreen Bay, to Te Atatū where it connects with the existing State Highway SH16shared path. The proposed Pathway will connect to reserves, esplanadereserves, sports parks and roads, as well as connecting the suburbs of TeAtatū , Kelston, Glendene, Avondale, New Lynn and Green Bay using a series ofcoastal boardwalks and land-based paths.

For the boardwalk segments we proposed luminaires flush-recessed into the rectangular handrail section at a mounting height of 1.2m and set-out so thatthe light is directed down onto the boardwalk only. We sourced a discreet miniature puck product and had it specifically tailored to work with this project’s 4m wide boardwalk, enabling greater spacing of luminaires. The product had to have a forward-throw asymmetric beam when mounted at 0 tilt, to achieve superior glare control, visual comfort, zero spill to sky, being mindful of Dark Sky awareness and light pollution, and limiting backwards-spill to prevent disruption to the fragile ecosystem.

2025

Te Rimutahi

Excellence

Designer: Alix Abanda, Johanna Späth, Beca

Client: Auckland Council

Design Brief's / Challenges:

What has been created as a result is a hybrid civic space. The roof that once covered the parking area outside the retail premises has been retained and adapted into a canopy that provides a wānanga space, with ceiling lights representing whetū (stars) and Ranginui (the sky father) with the lighting on the ground representing the connection to Papatūānuku (the earth mother).​​​​​​​ 

“The lighting really dives into that idea of an urban oasis – somewhere you can rest a little bit,” Beca Associate - Lighting Design Alix Abanda says. “Especially at night, you get this sense of travelling from this busy road to something peaceful and calm. As you go from the edge of the footpath to the green discovery, the light levels dim, which allows you to look at the sky, the stars and the greenery around you, without urban lighting disrupting your vision. There are patterns and gobo lights that activate the urban living room part, which gives another overlay. The canopy has twinkling lights on the floor and ceiling, echoing the stars.”

RASNZ DarkSkies Group's Comments:

The designer remarks that “the design embraces darkness as a design element”, and that “darkness is not something to be overcome, but something to be celebrated”.

Ultimately, from a purely dark sky perspective, the best way to avoid brightening the night sky is not to produce light in the first place.

The result is satisfying, while enhancing pedestrian safety.

2024 

​​​​​​​Lyttelton Port Company Coal Yard Exterior Lighting Upgrade

Highly Commended

Designer: WSP New Zealnd Ltd

Client: Lyttleton Port Company

Design Brief's / Challenges: 

The Lyttelton Port Company Coal Yard Exterior Lighting Upgrade installation project designed by WSP New Zealand Ltd,  replacing the old sodium lights with LED lights.

The Coal Yard lighting upgrade represented a significant improvement for workplace safety and environmental responsibility, located in the sensitive natural environment at Lyttelton Harbour,

The project improved lighting levels and reduced the glare for drivers while working in the direction of the lights at night.

Coal yards are notoriously problematic to light, given the mostly black surfaces and large areas.

3000K LEDs were selected to minimise the impact on the night sky, the natural hillside and adjacent marine environments.

In addition, a control system is used to switch ‘off’ the work area lights when coal operations finish at night and dim the perimeter service road lights to a minimal low level.

This further reduces the effects on the night environment and provides significant power savings.

Further awards

Highly Commended

Project:  Hillmorton SMHS
Lighting Designers:  Beca
Client:  Infrastructure and Investment Group, Health New Zealand (Waitaha Canterbury)

Special Mention

Project:  Amœba
Lighting Designers:  MAW Design
Client:  Wellington City Council

Special Mention

Project:  Te Hokinga Mahara – A Collection of Memories
Lighting Designers:  Norwich Group
Client:  Auckland Council​​​​​​​

2023 

​​​​​​​Lyttelton Harbour Dry Dock Exterior Lighting Upgrade

Highly Commended

Designer: Pederson Read Consulting Engineers

Client: Lyttleton Port Company

Design Brief's / Challenges: 

“From the moment the first light was commissioned, it was clear the upgrade would make a massive difference to the community and people who work in and around the dock”, said Hannah Fyffe.

“There is uniform, consistent, focused lighting”, she added.

RESIDENTS HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE NEW SUSTAINABLE DIRECTIONAL LIGHTING

Justin Evans, the Senior Electrical Engineer at Pederson Read, said all those who work at the dock have expressed their positive feedback, saying it’s “amazing and a vast improvement”.

“Lights are grouped and adjusted so some are brighter, whereas others are dimmed to best suit the range of operational activities,” said Justin Evans.

“The teams working on the dock floor at night no longer work in dark spots and shadows”, he added.

“We have been able to dim the lights at night when just pedestrian access is required by the ship’s crew but can turn up when work is underway during the dark winter mornings and evenings.”

Selwyn Reserve (Mission Bay) Lighting Rejuvenation Project

Highly Commended

Designer: Babbage Consultants Ltd

Client: Auckland Council

The main goal was to upgrade the existing, end-of-life, non-LED luminaires and brackets with high-quality, environmentally friendly, and energy-saving LED luminaires and pole top brackets. 

A key consideration of this project was the visual appearance. The lighting solution needed to suit the heritage surrounding and the Melanesian Mission Building within the Reserve. 

The new lighting solution also needed to reduce glare as much as possible, which was achieved by utilizing luminaires with larger luminous areas operated at reduced drive currents. 

2022 

​​​​​​​Dunedin City LED Streetlight Replacement

Award of Excellence

Designer: LDP

Client: Ventia NZ Ltd

Design Brief's / Challenges: 

A key part of this contract is the design and installation of world-class street lighting.

The replacement of 14,000 high-pressure sodium streetlights with a full network of LEDs brings significant benefits to the people of Dunedin, including increased road safety, reduced energy usage and cost, and the ability to tailor lighting levels street-by-street.

The luminaires are all 'night sky rated' which means there is no up spill of lighting, and light fitting design is being adapted to match certain areas - for example, heritage-style fittings around the train station. 

Not only are LEDs far more energy efficient than traditional street lighting, but importantly their accurate colour rendering makes it easier to see, which is a major factor in increasing road safety. They also have a much longer, more predictable lifespan than traditional bulbs.

Twenty base stations have been installed around the Dunedin area that 'telecells' on each individual light communicate with, allowing our team to manage each individual lights.

One of the most innovative parts of the project is the use of adaptive lighting for certain areas such as the sports stadium. This technology means that when an event is on the maintenance team can set the nearby street lights to maximum brightness for public safety, then at a certain time the lights return to their default settings.

2021 

​​​​​​​Christchurch Airport Antarctic Walkway “Echoes” Audio and Lighting System

Award of Excellence

Designer: Pederson Read

Client: Christchurch Airport

Design Brief's / Challenges: 

The Antarctic Walkway is not just a functional piece of infrastructure to protect people from the weather but also an art installation, which reacts to your movement, speed and direction as you move through it. The interaction happens both day and night, but you’ll get the full experience when it’s dark! ‘Echoes’ is an interactive experience which senses movement throughout the walkway and transfers it into sound and light. The speed and direction of the pulses is triggered by the visitor. Like ripples in the Southern Ocean, patterns form as multiple 'echoes' cross each other. 

RASNZ DarkSkies Group's Comments:

The usually mundane visit to an airport is transformed by this imaginative installation between the terminal, Antarctic Centre and associated facilities into an experience of ‘Sense of Place’.

There is no spill from the blade lights past the walkway structure, avoiding any glare or spill issues onto the adjacent hotel or the air traffic control tower.

Interactive lighting and sound activated by the speed and direction of passing pedestrians provides an energy-efficient solution and an enhanced walkway experience

Dunedin Airport Apron Lighting Upgrade

Highly Commended

Designer: Pederson Read

Client: Dunedin Airport

Design Brief's / Challenges: 

Apron Lighting: Successful introduction of LED flood lighting on the apron. This has vastly improved the quality of light and safety environment our staff and airline partners operate in

RASNZ DarkSkies Group's Comments:

Needing to comply with CAA requirements, this project was conducted within very tight design and construction constraints.

Full cut-off shielding produces no upward light spill, giving uniform lighting over the targeted areas and improved apron visibility and safety. An example of the attention to detail is exemplified in the installation of black sleeves wrapped around the lighting poles to eliminate glare to ATC staff. Lighting control via a mobile app provides four modes of operation, including reducing glare in fog/rain conditions.

2019 

​​​​​​​Lyttelton Timeball Station

Award of Excellence

Designer: Kevin Crawley, Total Lighting Ltd

Client: Heritage New Zealand

Design Brief's / Challenges: 

This iconic structure was rebuilt due to earthquake damage.  The respect and the sensitivity of lighting such a piece had to be accomplished in just the right way. The colour temperature and intensity had to be just right, with minimal light spill. The red timeball on top of the tower had to be treated as a separate entity while being very much the principal reason for the tower’s existence.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Auckland Harbour Bridge Road Lighting Renewal

Highly Commended

Designer: Andy Collins, Tony Raper - WSP Opus and Total Bridge Services

Client: New Zealand Transport Agency - Auckland Harbour Bridge

Design Brief's / Challenges: ​​​​​​​

The Auckland Harbour Bridge, an iconic landmark of the Waitemata Harbour, and key element of NZ Transport Agency’s Northern Motorway, underwent a significant upgrade to the Road Lighting infrastructure. The 8-year project bridged the change from HPS to the application of LED lighting technology, simultaneously integrating challenging structural design elements, resulting in a high-performance installation, embracing the environmental impacts of reducing both energy use and the visual impact upon the night sky. Significant reduction in the visual impact upon the night sky  embracing the Dark Skies philosophy.

2018 

​​​​​​​Gateway Bridge Arches Christchurch Airport

Highly Commended

Designer: John McKensey, LDP Ltd

Client: New Zealand Transport Agency

Design Brief's / Challenges:

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) recognised the significance of the bridge at the intersection of Memorial Avenue/Russley Road (SH1) as a gateway to Christchurch.LDP were chosen to design a world-class lighting installation to enhance the Arches.

During the course of design the following limitations were established:Safety for road users The arches span two major roads – Russley Road (State Highway 1) and Memorial Avenue. Limiting potential glare and distraction to road users was a fundamental and challenging criterion. Safety for air traffic The proximity to Christchurch International Airport required careful consideration to avoid obtrusive light to aircraft. The progressive change of shape of each arch creates a gradually changing face providing a challenge to light evenly. As each arch rises, the profile rotates. The final location of each luminaire foundation and its related electrical conduit had to be finalised before the ground works were completed as specific engineered openings had to be made in geotextile materials as they were built.

RASNZ DarkSkies Group's Comments:

This iconic structure presented a complex challenge lighting the large twisting arches located over a major road interchange and close to Christchurch Airport. 

The design minimises light spill, provides safety for pedestrians and prevents distractions to passing drivers. The discreet lighting installation doesn’t undermine daytime viewing of the arches, and leaves night time viewers wondering where the lighting sources are located.

Careful selection of various models and beam angles were tested in full mock-up onsite. Glare snoots and narrow beam optics were used for the fifty luminaires, which were positioned for grazing light throw.

2017 

​​​​​​​Canterbury Earthquake Memorial Wall

Award of Excellence

Designer: Peter McBride, Kate Macdonald, Matthew Anderson - GHD

Client: Otakaro Limited

Design Brief's / Challenges: 

The challenge was to provide discrete RGBW grazing light to capture the engraved names of the 185 victims of the 2011 earthquake. The luminaires were to be located in a ground channel at the wall's base, which is also a designated flood zone from the adjacent Avon River.

The luminaires needed to be high output but with no mains voltage possible in the channel we developed a custom low voltage version of the Luxima Aqua M50 submersible IP68 luminaire in conjunction with Force 12 DMX drivers which could be remotely located up to 30m away in the streetside cabinets. DMX scene control was via a Pharos controller to enable full RGBW displays when required. 

RASNZ DarkSkies Group's Comments:

Concealed and well positioned fixtures, and careful choice of colours contribute to this excellent installation. The memorial is a sombre, subdued haven of repose for reflection and contemplation, at night as well as during daytime. 

Importantly, the design also aims for minimal light spill onto the river to avoid disruption to the Tuna kuwharuwharu (longfin eels) that live in the Avon River. Dark sky principles include protection of local flora and fauna, extending beyond the night sky, neighbourhood light pollution and good design of luminaires. Maintenance-free integration of timing and lighting effects with twilight times, the seasons, daylight saving times, etc. is performed with a Pharos controller.

However, it is disappointing that an alternative to the inground uplighting of the trees wasn’t utilised. Hopefully, the existing young trees will grow to block the skyward light when they reach maturity.

​​​​​​​Christchurch Casino

Highly Commended

Designer: Kevin Cawley, Kevin Cwley Lighting Design.

Client: Christchurch Casino

Attention to detail mark this entertaining and well thought out concept. The design is to be commended for the choice and careful installation of concealed 10° beam angle fittings and the use of the bull nose building capping to eliminate light spill. DMX is used for system control, including astronomical timing control.

Bastion Point Artwork

Highly Commended

Designer: Richard Bracebridge, Light Works Ltd

Client: Auckland City

This beautifully understated installation ensures the mosaic artworks are the focus of attention and are shown at their best. The spotlights have a ultra-narrow beam angle with sharp cut-offs. Aided by snoot attachments this produces no direct upward light, and complete shielding of light spill and glare from heavy traffic on adjacent Tamaki Drive. The installation is almost invisible away from the site, and the low power system is controlled with a simple daylight/time clock.

2016 

Foster Recreation Park – Stage 1 Sports Park Lighting

Highly Commended

Designer: C Hoy, Musco Lighting Australia Pty Ltd

Client: Selwyn District Council

Design Brief's / Challenges: 

The first major multi field LED light system to be installed on a New Zealand sports ground has now been installed at Foster Park.

When fully developed, the park will have around 20 playing fields and will be used by a range of sports codes for competition and training. The first 10 fields are nearly ready for use in the winter. The park will also include a large children’s play area, family picnic space, events space and walking and cycling paths. The new LED lights are more energy efficient than normal lights and have a longer lifetime. They provide concentrated light in the evenings at the sportsfields, with little spill over into surrounding areas.

RASNZ DarkSkies Group's Comments:

There are many complications designing good lighting for sports fields. Unfortunately, all too often the solutions to lighting the fields well and keeping costs down come at the expense of the local neighbourhood. It is heartening to see the lighting at this park providing great cut-off with virtually no light spill beyond the fields. While future luminaire and design developments and improvements will be welcome, this is a good first step to protecting the night sky and nearby residential areas.​​​​​​​

Wellington Public Trust Building Facade

Commended

Designer: Greig Blackler, Sean Clancey - Pacific Consultants

Client: Maurice Clark of Cheops Holdings Ltd

​​​​​​​RASNZ DarkSkies Group's Comments:

The use of blade optics achieves the aim of highlighting the architectural features, without upward lighting flooding the sky with unwanted and wasted illumination.

2015 

45 Queen Street Podium Redevelopment Facade

Award of Excellence

Designer: Grant Armstrong, Mona Aziz, Kevin Southgate - Ingate Architects, Stephenson & Turner

Client: AMP Capital

Design Brief's / Challenges: 

Linear RGB LED luminaires are hidden inside vertical etched glass fins and portal columns. This creates a clean daytime appearance while diffusing vibrant light across the glass at night. The concealed lighting aesthetic continues from the exterior glass fins into the redesigned two-story atrium and Level One lobby.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Khartoum Place Stage II Pedestrian Plaza

Highly Commended

Designer: Tony Tavita, Aurecon

Client: Auckland Council

Innovative lighting design by Aurecon transforms crime ridden inner city urban area into an elegant and safe pedestrian route. To achieve this, the Aurecon team designed a lighting system with a cylindrical field of view a new approach for exterior spaces where a double layer of light levels are overlaid for both horizontal and vertical illuminance. This method eliminates shadowing from pedestrian users making it clear for facial recognition from a distance of 10 to 15 meters away. Aurecon was awarded a Highly Commended Dark Sky Award from the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand, a prestigious award judged on adverse environmental effects and crime prevention through environmental design.

St Margaret’s College Exterior Area, Amenity and Feature Lighting

Special Mention for Energy Efficiency

Designer: Evan Owens - Cosgroves Ltd

2014

Opera House Lane, Wellington

Award of Excellence

Designer: Pontus Hammarbäck - Stephenson & Turner NZ Ltd

Client: Wellington City Council

Design Brief's / Challenges: 

S&T’s specialist lighting designers embraced the opportunity to revitalise the once-overlooked laneway by introducing a series of dynamic, colour-changing, and movable light fittings. These elements were designed to create a playful and interactive lighting environment, transforming the space into a welcoming urban corridor.

Light was also used to accentuate the Kaynemaile chandelier—crafted from a locally invented polycarbonate mesh, originally developed as a lightweight alternative to chainmail for use in The Lord of the Rings films. The illuminated chandelier became a striking focal point, celebrating local innovation and storytelling through architectural lighting.

As urban lighting design continues to evolve, this project offered a unique opportunity to demonstrate how creative lighting solutions can reinvent underutilised public spaces. The alleyway is now a safer, more engaging passageway that invites pedestrians to linger, experience, and enjoy the smart lighting installation.

RASNZ DarkSkies Group's Comments:

Very creative solutions for a rather depressing and demanding space have produced a fun and spontaneous night time walkway. Talking with the designer following the award, Pontus Hammarbäck expressed how dark skies are important to him, having grown up in northern Sweden at a latitude of 63°N, just 4° from the Arctic Circle. 

The inspired implementation of lighting triggered by people moving through the lane, in tandem with lighting timer controls and good lamp selection, minimises the overall required illumination leading to low energy consumption. The OHL lighting can also be used as part of independent events. 

Future implementation of reduced light levels during low usage periods has been addressed with installation of Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI). 

Opera House Lane has been transformed into an inviting thoroughfare with the safety that good CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design) provides. Tagging and vandalism has been virtually eliminated.

The design shows attention to detail in choice of shielding and positioning of luminaires, and has resisted the temptation to light the whole height of the adjoining buildings. The night sky has been protected, with negligible light spill to neighbouring properties.Feedback from residents about their new lane has been enthusiastic.

2012

Jellico Street and Silo Park (Wynyard Quarter) Redevelopment Project.

Award of Excellence

Designer: Mark Kessner, eCubed Building Workshop Ltd, Rob Ginns, Concept Lighting Architecture Ltd, Electrolight Melbourne

Client: Waterfront Auckland

RASNZ DarkSkies Group's Comments:

This dark sky-friendly design meets the complex requirements of pedestrian, vehicular, sculptural, recreational, park, entertainment, and fishing industry activities in a cohesive vision sensitive to the waterfront environment. The two-layered lighting with full cut-off fittings and 0° tilt produces minimal light pollution and sky glow. Mindful of amendments to lighting standards, Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) has been installed for future implementation of reduced light levels during low occupancy times.

Knox Church, Christchurch

Special Mention was awarded to Knox Church, Christchurch, submitted by Kevin Cawley of Lighting Design Limited 2010. The beautiful use of lighting of this 100-year-old wooden ceiling has a wonderful sculptural quality, yet great care has been taken to avoid any upwards spill and any glare affecting the nearby busy road intersection. The result is a unique testament to the resilience of the people of earthquake-ravaged Christchurch. ​​​​​​​

2011

Olympic Park Pathway Lighting, New Lyn, Auckland

Award of Excellence

Designer: John McKensey, Mike Grunsell and Adriana D'Arruda, LDP Limited

Design Brief's / Challenges: 

The lighting concept for the Olympic Park Pathway required an integrated lighting-power-control solution that was aesthetically pleasing during the day and provided a high level of visual comfort at night. Hooded luminaires, mounted at 6m, contain light spillage and impart a perceived human scale to the project. In addition, the dark grey colour chosen for the columns recedes at night, helping to minimise the visual impact.

RASNZ DarkSkies Group's Comments:

This is an outstanding design that provides a safe and inviting walkway, following CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) principles. The project combines all the elements desired from a dark sky friendly design into a cohesive vision sensitive to the park environment. The LED lighting produces minimal light pollution and no sky glow, employing stand alone off grid solar power with a fully automatic off peak dimming system using an astronomical clock and daylight sensing.

Special Mentions are awarded to Opus International Consultants Ltd for their ‘Intelligent Streetlighting Eden Park’ project and their ‘Wairepo Swamp Walk’ development.

2010 

Project Twin Streams - Walkway & Cycleway, Auckland

Award of Excellence

Mark Kirkham, Jolanda Taljaard -  Advanced Lighting Technologies

Description: 

Project Twin Streams is an umbrella name for a number of initiatives centred on two streams (Opanuku and Oratia) in the former Waitakere City Council area of Auckland, New Zealand.

Initially it was planned to have the walk/cycleways used during daylight hours only for safety reasons. As later funding from ATA required all areas to be fully lit, a range of options were considered. Solar lighting was the preferred option but was too expensive for the entire network. There were, initially, a number of demonstration sites. The project undertook an innovative approach to the lighting design whereby the lighting suppliers and manufacturers worked together on the design using LED lights. The network of walk/cycleways is the biggest LED project in New Zealand. (At the time of this project)

RASNZ DarkSkies Group's Comments:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This was a great entry and very deserving of the win. They are using a number of very good quality lighting fixtures, they weren't perfect but they are certainly showing what can be done.

2008

Wanaka Waterfront

Design Brief's / Challenges: 

A Queenstown Lakes District Council installation has received the ultimate praise from a national body,” QLDC community services general manager Paul Wilson said.

At the recent New Zealand and Australian Lighting Society Awards Mr Wilson and Modus Lighting received the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand Dark Sky Lighting Design Award of Excellence for the Wanaka playground installation. The project also received a ‘highly commended’ for the best luminary design from the Illumination Engineers Society.

“It’s extremely gratifying to have the work acknowledged. The council both understands and practises the concept of protecting and enhancing views of our night sky,” Mr Wilson said.

In keeping with the council’s Southern Light Strategy, lighting installation on the Wanaka Waterfront featured the council designed timber poles and new “full-cut off” lantern specifically designed by Weef in conjunction with the council for use in its town centres.

RASNZ DarkSkies Group's Comments:

The win received the congratulations of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand’s DarkSkies Group director Steve Butler. “The council’s earlier work on the Southern Light Strategy is well noted around the country and its determination to implement it is appreciated,” Mr Butler said.

He also noted the public process the council had entered into to gauge community support. The council had received strong support from its communities to protect the night sky. “This has always been something which pleased me particularly as it establishes the importance of the night environment in its own right,” Mr Butler said

2007

Postoffice Precinct - Queenstown

Design Brief's / Challenges: 

The upward light element had to be tightly controlled and be as close to the building line as possible to minimise light pollution and glare, especially to the users of the buildings upper level windows.

Glare and excessive spill lighting were to be closely controlled to the minimum.

Users of the upper levels of the building were not to experience discomfort from glare of the light fitting positioned at a lower level. Adjoining building and properties were not to be adversely affected by excessive spill lighting.

RASNZ DarkSkies Group's Comments:

This is a very good attempt to achieve the objectives of the design brief. The choice of a cylindrical form Luminaire may not have been the best option to control upward light spill as evident in the photos where some light spils past the outer edge of the eaves into the sky. Because the lamps are mounted close to the walls of the building, most of the light washes the walls and lthe underside of the eaves. Rectangular luminaires would have given more control to restrict the spill light.

The objectives of controlling glare, preventing spill light into the building's windows and onto adjoining properties have been met.

The RASNZ are pleased to award this project because of the efforts to achieve difficult lighting effects while minimising the impact on the surrounding environment.