Cuvier Island Lighthouse, Maritime lighthouse on Cuvier Island, New Zealand
Cuvier Island Lighthouse is a cast-iron tower on Cuvier Island, off the east coast of the North Island. The cylindrical shaft, light grey in tone, has two rectangular windows set one above the other, a circular gallery with a metal railing, and a glazed lantern room under a dark domed roof. The tower is 15 m high and its light stands at a focal height of 119 m.
The lighthouse was built in 1889 and was the first beacon in New Zealand constructed using cast iron materials. This building method represented a technological innovation and set new standards for lighthouse construction in the country.
The island is a wildlife reserve managed by the Department of Conservation and forms part of an island restoration project, so landing is restricted and the tower and site are closed to the public. The light itself is controlled remotely from Maritime New Zealand's headquarters in Wellington.
The site and tower are closed, and the island can only be reached by boat; there is no public access to the light. The white flash repeats every second, not every 15 seconds, and its focal plane sits 119 m above sea level, giving a nominal range of 19 nautical miles (about 35 km).
The light was fully automated in 1982 and is now controlled from Maritime New Zealand's headquarters in Wellington, so no keeper lives on the island. Cuvier Island itself is a wildlife reserve managed by the Department of Conservation as part of an island restoration project.
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