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Calls for New Zealand to become 'dark sky' nation

Publish Date
Mon, 21 Oct 2019, 10:25AM
Steve Butler wants fewer light pollution. (Photo / NZ Herald)

Calls for New Zealand to become 'dark sky' nation

Publish Date
Mon, 21 Oct 2019, 10:25AM

There's a push for New Zealand to star as a 'dark sky' nation.

The country already has three accredited 'dark sky' sites - and and now a group of scientists is hoping the whole of New Zealand might join in.

In the existing reserves, light is reduced as much as possible to make it easier to see stars in the sky.

Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand Dark Sky group director Steve Butler told Kate Hawkesby New Zealand has an advantage.

"Quite a lot of our country is dark by world standards. People come here and they are blown away by things we take for granted."

Butler says light pollution has serious implications.

"Those impacts are quite far reaching: health issues environmental and ecological disruption, insects and birds."

 

 

 

 

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