New Sports Lighting Sets the Standard at Takahanga MainPower Multi Sport Court
The Kaikōura District Council has recently completed the installation of new sports lighting at the refurbished Takahanga MainPower Multi Sport Courts, and we’re delighted with the extra consideration taken in the design and fitting of the lights.
Quality sports lighting means extended playing hours and more opportunities for our tennis and netball communities to thrive. What makes this project particularly significant is that the lighting design not only meets Kaikōura’s updated district lighting provisions, but it also goes above and beyond them. Additional shielding has been incorporated to help minimise light spill toward the coastline. This will help reduce artificial light reaching the sea and supports the protection of our precious marine environment and nocturnal wildlife.
James Prentice, Kaikōura District Council, said: “When we were looking at the Takahanga courts, we wanted lighting that not only works well for sport but respects Kaikōura’s environment and dark sky values, balancing community use with environmental responsibility. Good lighting design can achieve both performance and protection”.
Designed for sport and for the sky
The new lighting has been professionally designed to meet national sports lighting standards for tennis and netball, while also aligning with Kaikōura’s Dark Sky commitments. In simple terms, this means:
- Light is directed only where it’s needed — onto the courts, not into the sky
- Fixtures include rear visors and shielding to control spill
- Glare has been carefully managed for players, neighbours, and wildlife
- Lighting levels are appropriate for community-level sport
Hours of use
The lights will not operate from 10pm to 6am which is controlled by an internal timer, to comply with the district plan.
All lighting is controlled by a locked box on the outside of the courts, and all three courts can be controlled separately resulting in only illuminating what’s required, saving on operating costs.
Thanks
A big thank you to Kaikōura District Council for their continued support of the dark sky movement, and for helping Kaikōura lead the way in lighting done right.