Center Island Lighthouse

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Center Island Lighthouse
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Place: Center Island , Foveaux Strait , South Island , New Zealand
Location: Southland , New Zealand
Geographical location: 46 ° 27 '37 "  S , 167 ° 50' 41.2"  O Coordinates: 46 ° 27 '37 "  S , 167 ° 50' 41.2"  O
Height of tower base: 81  m
Fire carrier height : 12 m
Center Island Lighthouse (New Zealand)
Center Island Lighthouse
Identifier : FL WR 15
Scope knows: 19 nm (35.2 km )
Scope red: 19 nm (35.2 km )
Operating mode: 1878 oil lamp
1955 electrification
1987 automated
Function: lighthouse
Operating time: since 1878
International ordinal number: K4438

Center Island Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Center Island ( Māori Rarotoka ) at the western end of Foveaux Strait off the south coast of New Zealand's South Island . It marks the west end of the Foveaux Strait between New Zealand's South Island and Stewart Island and is one of the few wooden lighthouses that have been preserved in New Zealand. The lighthouse is operated by Maritime New Zealand .

The island of Rarotoka was already used by the Maori as a landmark for navigation. In 1861 the construction of a lighthouse on either the island or Stewart Island was considered. A closer examination of both locations by Captain Johnson in 1864 found Center Island.

Work began in 1877, but disputes arose with the Maori, from whom they believed the government had bought the land in 1853. The island has a special spiritual meaning for the indigenous people and was a popular burial place. They occupied the newly built lighthouse keeper's house for a time. The lighthouse, made of kauri wood , was ignited for the first time on September 16, 1878. At first it was fired with rapeseed oil, later switched to paraffin .

John Blackett was responsible for the design of the structure, which was also used for the Cape Maria van Diemen Lighthouse, which went into operation a year later . The tower was originally operated by three lighthouse keepers. In 1955 the tower was electrified and supplied by a diesel generator, at the same time the crew was reduced to two men and in 1977 to a single guard. In 1987 the tower was one of the last to be automated in New Zealand and since then, like all New Zealand lighthouses, it has been remotely controlled from a central control room at the headquarters of Maritime New Zealand in Wellington . In 1990 the energy supply was switched to solar energy.

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