LIGHT HOUSES OF NEW ZEALAND

BARING HEAD K4004

designated historic place, a In 1989 the light was popular landmark in the Wellington automated and the last keeper region. withdrawn. The light is now electronically monitored from The Baring Head light was first lit Wellington. in June 1935 and was the first light in New Zealand to start operating immediately on electricity, powered by diesel generators. The light station was connected to mains electricity in Latitude: 41°25' South 1950. However, possums caused Longitude: 174°52' East frequent power failures as they climbed the poles and shorted The light was lit for the first time the wires, so metal guards were on 18 June1935, and the last fitted to all power poles in the keeper withdrawn in 1989. The area! light shines from a 12 metre-high tower, and is 87 metres above It was the first watched light to be sea level. It is an occulting white built in New Zealand for 22 years light flashing on for 9 seconds (since the Castle Point Lighthouse then off for 6 seconds, and can was built in 1913) - all lights built be seen for 10 nautical miles (18 in the intervening years were kilometres). unwatched. After the Baring Head light was built, a programme of electrification of all Baring Head is the nearest light lights around New Zealand began, to Wellington, and was one of and was completed by 1957. the last major lighthouse stations to be built in New The lighthouse at Baring Head Zealand. Until 1935, ships had was within comfortable reach of been guided into Wellington Wellington and , Harbour by the light at making it easier for keepers and , which was the their families to stay in touch with first major lighthouse station to the outside world, and for the be built (in 1859). children to attend school. The traffic wasn't always away from In 1932 it was decided to build a the light station, however. In 1984 new light station at Baring Head the keeper estimated that as many to serve both as an approach as 1000 people visited the light to Wellington harbour, and lighthouse each year. as a coastal light for . Baring Head lighthouse was used It was built on land presented to as a signal station by the armed the Government by a local forces during the Second World farmer, Mr Eric Riddiford, and War. While light keepers were work commenced on the exempt from conscription, they buildings, the lighthouse, and were issued with army jerseys radio beacon towers in 1934. because of the extreme weather conditions under which they The light at Pencarrow Head was worked, and because their work extinguished in 1935 and the contributed to the war effort. tower is now an officially