It has been 10 years in the making, but the Naseby community can finally celebrate official accreditation as New Zealand’s first International Dark Sky Community.

To mark the milestone, a community event is planned in Naseby for this Saturday (September 27), inviting locals and visitors to learn about and celebrate the exceptional quality of Naseby’s night skies. 

The process began in 2016 when Naseby Vision had early discussions with DarkSky expert John Barentine to explore the possibility of accreditation. 

By 2018, the community had conducted extensive night sky quality surveys and gained public support.

“The people of Naseby have put in a tremendous amount of effort into achieving the first International Dark Sky Community certification for the nation of New Zealand,” International Dark Sky place programme manager Amber Harrison said.

“The country is already a leader for dark skies in many ways, and we at DarkSky International are confident that more communities like Naseby will come to attain this certification and continue the push for greater lighting policies throughout the country.”

The path to certification proved more complex than anticipated. 

Central Otago’s lighting regulations required significant revision, prompting Central Otago District Council (CODC) to initiate a comprehensive District Plan Change in 2021 in order to allow the establishment of Dark Sky precincts and govern light use.

“When we began, we had no idea how intricate this process would be,” Naseby Vision project lead Jill Wolff said.

“The council’s community development and planning teams were incredibly supportive and committed to getting it right so that we could proceed with our application when the time was right.”

Mars above the Milky Way in Naseby. Photo: Supplied

Following public consultation and hearings, Plan Change 22 was adopted in October 2024, officially protecting Naseby’s skies from light pollution and paving the way for the final application to be resubmitted, and approved.

Community wide engagement has been key to the town achieving accreditation as an International Dark Sky Community - it was a significant point of difference from other Dark Sky locations in New Zealand. 

Saturday’s event will kick off a series of initiatives designed to deepen public engagement with astronomy and light pollution awareness.

Twice a year Naseby Vision held community events to share information and knowledge about the night sky.

April and September were generally only the months that it worked because it was too light during summer evenings and too cold in the middle of winter.

CODC mayor Tamah Alley said Naseby’s recognition as an International Dark Sky Community was an inspirational example of what happens when community, conservation, and vision come together. 

“This honour not only celebrates our pristine skies today but also safeguards them for future generations of Central Otago residents and visitors, inspiring wonder, learning, and pride in shining brighter than ever—naturally,” she said.

Tourism Central Otago head of tourism designation Antz Longman also praised the community’s achievement.

“We must congratulate the people of Naseby for leading the charge in protecting our region’s night skies. With Central Otago already identified as a prime location to view the next full solar eclipse in July 2028, there’s no better place to experience it than a town that has embraced and safeguarded its exceptional night sky vistas.”

The community will continue spreading the word on how important and accessible the dark sky is in Naseby, continue to monitor the local planning ordinances on dark sky protection, and ensure that they are followed for the good of the community. 

“It feels good to know you've put something this important in place for the community and future generations,” Jill said.

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