Tuhawaiki Point
Lighthouse overview
Tuhawaiki Point, or Jacks Point as it is also known, is about 5 kilometres south of Timaru on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island.
In 2020, the Tuhawaiki (Jacks) Point Lighthouse was solarised and its mains power disconnected.
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Lighthouse feature: |
Details |
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Location: |
latitude 44°27’ south, longitude 171°16’ east |
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Elevation: |
29 metres above sea level |
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Construction: |
cast iron tower |
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Tower height: |
9 metres |
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Light configuration: |
flashing LED beacon |
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Light flash character: |
white light flashing once every 10 seconds |
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Power source: |
Battery charged by solar panels |
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Range: |
9 nautical miles (16 kilometres) |
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Date light first lit: |
1904 |
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Automated: |
1904 |
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Demanned: |
1930 |
Visit Tuhawaiki Point Lighthouse
Tuhawaiki (Jacks) Point Lighthouse station is accessible to the public from the nearby beach. The lighthouse is not open to visitors.
History of Tuhawaiki Point Lighthouse
Tuhawaiki Point, or Jacks Point, gets its name from Hone (Jack) Tuhawaiki, a Māori chief of Ngāi Tahu and Kai Tahu.
The Tuhawaiki (Jacks) Point Lighthouse was relocated on site in 1903 by the Timaru Harbour Board. It was built to replace the ineffective harbour light.
The 1866 lighthouse tower originally stood on Mātiu|Somes Island in Wellington Harbour, before being moved to Tuhawaiki (Jacks) Point.
Operation of the light
In 1903, the tower was fitted with an incandescent light. This was a relatively untried lighting method in New Zealand at the time. The incandescent light worked by spraying oil vapour at high pressure into a mantle, which, once ignited, produced a brilliant white light. These lights required less maintenance than oil-burning lights.
Tuhawaiki (Jacks) Point Lighthouse is now fitted with an LED flashing beacon supplied by a battery charged by solar panels.
Life at Tuhawaiki (Jacks) Point Lighthouse
Tuhawaiki (Jacks) Point Lighthouse had a sole keeper, who lived on the station until the lighthouse was fully automated in 1930.
After automation, harbour employees from the nearby port of Timaru maintained the light.