Austin to push worlds first night-sky reserve at UNESCO meeting in Paris this week

Former cabinet minister Margaret Austin will push for adoption of the world’s first night sky reserve at Tekapo during a UNESCO conference in Paris this week.

 

Austin has made the vital pilgrimage to Paris on behalf of New Zealand and the Mackenzie district's Dark Sky bid.

 

She is chairperson of New Zealand's Starlight Reserve committee - which includes Professor John Hearnshaw of Canterbury University and Murray.

 

Austin will press on Friday (NZtime) for the adoption of the UNESCO world heritage park concept document so that the vision and principals covering the starlight reserve are fully accepted and confirmed by UNESCO.

 

If approved the Mackenzie country dark-sky reserve would coincide with and in recognition of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy.

 

Tekapo’s Graeme Murray, a driving force behind the project, said today it would be a positive result for New Zealand and the district to have the Mt John observatory and the Lake Tekapo area confirmed as the World's first Starlight Reserve.

 

"Our dream lies in the UNESCO concept document which we hope will be adopted by the conference. Margaret’s presence in Paris will play an important part in that,’’ he said.

 

Murray is a director of Earth and Sky which operates at Mt John Observatory above Lake Tekapo, in association with Canterbury and Nagoya Universities and is a director of the Mackenzie Tourism and Development Trust who are helping drive the initiative.

 

"Margaret's speech to the first International Year of Astronomy conference in Paris is our most important effort up until this date to help try to have our vision and principals of a "Park in the Sky" formally adopted Internationally.’’

 

The idea of a world night sky reserve was first suggested seven years ago when questions were raised over the risk to the Mt John observatory because it had to compete with light from increased development.

 

Many places overseas have lost touch with stars in the sky but the Mackenzie country still has a pristine dark sky and a park in the sky world reserve will ensure New Zealand is kept on the astronomy and astro-tourism map.

 

``We want to better protect one of the Mackenzie’s most valuable assets, its Dark, starry Sky. It has never been done anywhere in the world so we hope we’ll be successful,’’ Murray said.

 

Through the initiatives of the Mackenzie District Council most of the required regulatory ordinances that might be required for such a status are already in place. All Tekapo streets lights are Sodium and shielded from above to reduce the glow and all household lights must face down --- not up. This in turn encourages the responsible use of electricity and to avoid energy waste.

 

The reserve would give recognition and protection for the region’s dark unpolluted skies, unlike big cities which are lit up like beacons. Light-pollution is a major problem world-wide. But the Mackenzie Country night sky is of significantly high scientific value and has long been regarded as a Mecca for astronomers and stargazers alike.

 

Mt John above the Tekapo township is considered the most beautiful, easily accessible observatory in the World. The observatory is home to six telescopes including the country’s biggest telescope which measures 1.8m across and can observe 50 million stars each clear night.

 

NZ has just three of the 851 listed world heritage sites: Te Wahipounamu (Milford Sound area), Tongariro and the sub-Antarctic islands. The night sky reserve would be the fourth heritage park.