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Kahurangi Point

Kahurangi Point 1

Lighthouse overview 

Kahurangi Point Lighthouse stands on the northern end of the Karamea Bight on the north-western tip of the South Island of New Zealand.

 

Lighthouse feature: 

Details 

Location: 

latitude 40°47’ south, longitude 172°13’ east 

Elevation: 

47 metres above sea level 

Construction: 

cast iron tower 

Tower height: 

18 metres 

Light configuration: 

flashing LED beacon 

Light flash character: 

white light flashing twice every 15 seconds 

Power source: 

batteries charged by solar panels 

Range: 

9 nautical miles (16 kilometres) 

Date light first lit: 

1903 

Automated: 

1926 

Demanned: 

1960 

 

Getting to Kahurangi Point Lighthouse

Kahurangi Point Lighthouse is accessible to the public.

There is no public access to enter the lighthouse

All that remains of the light station is the lighthouse; the other buildings have all been removed. The lighthouse is situated within the Kahurangi National Park and can be reached on foot, taking several hours. Contact the Department of Conservation for more information about this challenging walk.

Walking route to Kahurangi Point Lighthouse (opens in new tab)

History of Kahurangi Point Lighthouse 

Construction of Kahurangi Point Lighthouse was difficult. Access to the site was limited and surrounding areas were largely unexplored, so no one knew quite what to expect. 

The tower was made by Judd Engineering Works of Thames. It was shipped to the station in sections and landed at the mouth of Big River. From there, it was carted more than three kilometres along the beach and then winched by tramway 50 metres up a cliff. 

Landing the tower sections was a difficult task. Two small boats were damaged and one worker broke his leg. The injured worker had to travel more than 145 kilometres to be treated. He was carried across 32 kilometres of rough country to Westhaven, and then on to Collingwood. From there, a steamer took him to Nelson. 

 

Operation of the light 

The incandescent kerosene light was first lit in 1903. In 1926, the kerosene light was converted to an automatic acetylene gas light. 

The Murchison earthquake in 1929 caused serious damage. The light was shattered, but the tower remained standing. A landslide propped up the tower but buried the bottom floor. One of the keepers’ homes was completely covered by earth. 

The lighthouse remained out of action until a temporary light could be set up. The tower was repaired and a new automatic light began operating in 1931. 

The keepers returned once the new automatic light was installed. The last keeper left in 1960. 

In 1997, Maritime NZ removed the original diesel‑powered light and associated equipment and installed a flashing beacon on the balcony. This beacon was powered by batteries and solar panels. 

In 2007, the filament lamp beacon was replaced with a LED beacon, again on the lighthouse’s balcony. 

 

Life at Kahurangi Point Lighthouse 

Although access to the station was a problem, the keepers seemed to enjoy their time at the lighthouse. 

The area is very lush and green. Growing vegetables and keeping livestock was straightforward, so the keepers’ diet was varied. There also was plenty of fish and seafood, wild berries, and mushrooms. 

Getting other supplies to the lighthouse was difficult. At first, there was a contract with a steamer to land oil and stores at Big Bay every six months. This proved too hazardous, so supplies were instead delivered by land. Each month, a keeper rode into Collingwood to get the supplies.