Cape Reinga Lighthouse
 Cape Reinga Lighthouse | |
 | |
| Location | Cape Reinga North Island New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°25′35.9″S 172°40′39.5″E / 34.426639°S 172.677639°E |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1941 |
| Construction | concrete tower |
| Automated | 1987 |
| Height | 10 metres (33 ft) |
| Shape | octagonal tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings | white towe, black dome lantern |
| Power source | solar power  |
| Operator | Maritime New Zealand[1] |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1941 |
| Focal height | 165 metres (541 ft) |
| Light source | solar power |
| Range | 19 nautical miles (35 km; 22 mi) |
| Characteristic | FL W 12s |
Cape Reinga Lighthouse is a lighthouse at Cape Reinga in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand.[2] It is owned and operated by Maritime New Zealand. The lighthouse is a common New Zealand icon and a popular tourist destination although the lighthouse itself is not open to the public.
History
The lighthouse was built in 1941 and first lit during May of that year. It was the last manned light to be built in New Zealand and replaced the Cape Maria Van Diemen Lighthouse, located on nearby Motuopao Island, which had been built in 1879. Accessing that lighthouse was difficult due to the rough seas in the area, so in 1938, it was decided to move the lighthouse to Cape Reinga for safety reasons. The complete lantern fittings from Motuopao Island were reused at Cape Reinga, though the new lighthouse was fitted with a 1000 watt electrical lamp instead that could be seen for 26 nautical miles (48 km). The lamp was powered by a diesel generator.
In 1987, the lighthouse was fully automated and the lighthouse keepers were withdrawn. The lighthouse is now monitored remotely from Wellington. In May 2000 the original lens and lamp were replaced by a 50 watt beacon. The beacon is powered by batteries that are recharged by solar cells. The beacon flashes every 12 seconds and can be seen for 19 nautical miles (35 km).
See also
References
- ^ Lighthouses Directory
- ^ Cape Reinga Lighthouse Profile Archived July 11, 2015, at the Wayback Machine (from the Maritime New Zealand website)
External links
- Lighthouses of New Zealand Maritime New Zealand
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