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New Zealand is all set to become the second ‘dark sky nation’ in the world
There’s a Māori term, Te Whanau o Marama, which means ‘the family of light’. When Māori went on voyages, they believed the stars lit the skies up to guide them. And luckily for us, we can have a slice of this beautiful legacy on our travels to New Zealand going forward. Turns out, the country is all set to become a ‘dark sky nation,’ only the second in the world.
According to the International Dark Sky Association (IDA), a Dark Place is an area which possesses an “exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage and/or public enjoyment.” NZ will join the island country of Niue in the South Pacific Ocean on this list.
A great place to start can be Lake Tekapo’s Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. Picture a hot tub and an ocean of stars above you. It sounds magical, right! Well, there’s more. Come winter (March to September), you can even see the Southern Lights illuminating the lake. The Māori believe that aurorae or Tahu Nui-a-rangi are, “the campfires of ancestors reflected in the sky.”
Darkness isn’t always revered in our culture. But sometimes, darkness means there's light somewhere, waiting to guide us. And with NZ a ‘dark sky nation,’ maybe it’s time to celebrate darkness too.