Artificial light has the potential to affect our health and general wellbeing, our environment, and our public safety. The brightness and clarity of the night sky can be reduced by the upward spill of outdoor lighting.
Did you know?
- The Tasman District is home to the Wai-iti International Dark Sky Park. This is a protected site encompassing 135 hectares. It’s the first of its kind in New Zealand.
- Colour temperature is a measurement of light from cool to warm colours using the Kelvin scale. Think about buying light bulbs where you can choose between warm white or cool white. Cooler colours have a greater impact on the night sky than warmer colours.
- Excessive or poorly managed lighting can have negative effects on neighbours, traffic and public safety, the natural character of our environments, people’s health, collective energy use, and the health and habitat of flora and fauna around us.
- Outdoor lighting can diminish the brightness and clarity of the night sky.
We propose the new plan:
- Ensures that appropriate lighting is allowed for the safe and efficient use of outdoor areas around buildings and other spaces.
- Develop specific provisions to manage the effects of lighting on the occupiers of neighbouring properties, traffic safety, natural character, human health and ecology.
- Introduce controls to maintain and enhance the darkness of the night sky (such as controlling upwards light spill, colour temperature and curfews/ time limits on some lighting).
