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Katiki Point

Katiki Point 1

Lighthouse overview

Katiki Point Lighthouse is located on the southern tip of the Moeraki peninsula, about 80 kilometres north of Dunedin. 

 

Lighthouse feature: 

Details 

Location: 

latitude 45°24’ south, longitude 170°52’ east 

Elevation: 

52 metres above sea level 

Construction: 

wooden tower 

Tower height: 

8 metres 

Light configuration: 

LED flashing beacon 

Light flash character: 

white light flashing once every 12 seconds 

Power source: 

mains electricity 

Range: 

14 nautical miles (29.5 kilometres) 

Date light first lit: 

1878 

Automated: 

1975 

Demanned: 

1975 

  

Visit Katiki Point Lighthouse 

Katiki Point Lighthouse station is in the Katiki Point Historic Reserve and is accessible to the public. The lighthouse is not open to visitors. 

There is no public access to enter the lighthouse

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu administers the Katiki Point Historic Reserve. You can reach the reserve and lighthouse on foot from the car park on Lighthouse Road. Turn off State Highway one at Moeraki Township.

Find Katiki Point Lighthouse on the map (opens in new tab)

History of Katiki Point Lighthouse 

Moeraki was a busy port during the 1840s when oil from nearby whaling stations was shipped from the harbour. When the whaling industry declined, the port began to struggle. Over time Oamaru, which linked to Dunedin and Christchurch by rail, became the preferred port for shipping and trade. 

In 1876, the then Marine Department decided to build a light at Katiki Point to make it safer for ships that sailed past en route to Port Chalmers near Dunedin. This decision followed several accidents on the dangerous reefs around the area. 

Construction of the lighthouse began in 1876 but was delayed because of bad weather.  

Just before the light was first lit, the lighthouse was struck by a storm which shook the tower so violently the lamp glass broke. The light had to be replaced and the tower strengthened before the light was finally lit in 1878. 

The station was automated in 1975 and the last keeper left that year. 

 

Operation of the light 

In 2005, the original light and associated equipment were replaced with an LED beacon installed on the balcony of the lighthouse. The original light is still in place. 

The new beacon is powered by mains electricity with battery back‑up. 

 

Life at Katiki Point Lighthouse 

Although shipping in and out of  Moeraki declined, the town remained busy, making this a favourite lighthouse for keepers. They had easy access to the local school and shops. The nearby railway meant keeper’s families could visit Dunedin and Christchurch. Keepers themselves could not leave the station for more than a couple of hours at a time, however, unless they were on holiday leave. 

Permission was required from the former Marine Department before guests could stay at this (or any other) lighthouse. 

At Moeraki, there were two permanent keepers and their families, each with a small two-bedroom house. 

A temporary keeper was often stationed at Moeraki, boarding for a month at a time with each keeper.  

In 1940, the principal keeper wrote to the former Marine Department requesting a hut for the temporary keeper. It was hard enough for a family to live around the shifts of one keeper, but when they also boarded the temporary keeper it was impossible. Both keepers had families with small children, who, in bad weather would be shut inside, trying to be quiet after the shifts of both their father and the boarder. 

The following month the situation had become urgent. Another letter appeared from the head keeper, who requested permission to build the hut, offering to pay for it himself. A two-room hut was approved and built a few months later, paid for by the former Marine Department.