Lighting modernization on dairy farms in Kaikoura

In Kaikōura, local dairy farmers, in collaboration with the Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust, have upgraded the lighting on dairy farms. The project aims to reduce light pollution while maintaining the necessary conditions for safe staff operations at night. This initiative is linked to the district of Kaikōura achieving International Dark Sky Sanctuary status in September 2024 and the council adopting new outdoor lighting regulations that same year. The primary goal of protecting the night sky is to preserve the population of the endangered seabird, the Hutton's shearwater (Hutton’s shearwater / kaikōura tītī), which are disoriented by bright lights.

The project applied three main principles: directing light downwards, using warm light, and preventing unnecessary glare. To achieve this, fully shielded LED luminaires with a colour temperature of 3000 Kelvin, meeting the council's requirements, were installed. Local electrician Dan Farr from Dan The Sparky noted that replacing existing lighting with dark-sky-compliant standards is inexpensive and often simply involves replacing floodlights with shielded, warm LED fixtures. Some farmers completely did away with outdoor lighting without compromising their work.

The initiative involved the Sequoia Dairy Shed and Rockwood Dairy Shed farms owned by Mylor Dairy, as well as the Boyd Dairy Shed on Old Beach Rd. Mylor Dairy Operations Manager Justin Hocking reported that the project reduced light pollution without interfering with production, while also bringing hidden benefits—reduced electricity consumption and less harsh light that is comfortable for workers and livestock animals. Another local farmer, Simon Mackle, shared that previously, due to the bright yard lighting on foggy mornings, he would notice hundreds of disoriented Hutton's shearwaters circling above the lamps.

Kaikōura District Council Chief Executive Will Doughty and Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust project coordinator Colette Doughty positively assessed the results of the cooperation and the farmers' willingness to participate in the environmental initiative. Fonterra Tasman Marlborough Regional Manager Sam McCulloch expressed hope that this real-world farm example will inspire other agriculturalists to review their outdoor lighting.