Thanks to everyone who came along to the Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust stall at this year’s A&P Show. What a wonderful day it was with bright blue skies, horses next to us in the arena, and plenty of smiling faces stopping by for a chat.
We loved connecting with locals and visitor and bringing this year’s A&P theme, “Hands in the Soil and Eyes on the Future,” into our stall. Alongside telescopes and tech, we celebrated the importance of protecting our night sky for pollinators, wildlife, and future generations. Healthy ecosystems don’t stop at sunset, reducing unnecessary artificial light helps nocturnal pollinators thrive and supports the balance of our natural environment.
The lighting display always sparked some great conversations and learning how simple choices at home can make a real difference.
The VR headsets were once again a highlight. It’s almost as much fun watching reactions as people explore the night sky in an entirely new way. There were plenty of laughs, wide smiles, and a few “wow!” moments.
A special thank you to Destination Kaikoura for loaning the gazebo and Moana Skies for generously loaning their solar scope and binoculars for the day. Being able to safely observe the Sun was a real treat. Spotting a tiny dark sunspot and learning that it’s actually bigger than Earth was a powerful reminder of just how vast and dynamic our universe really is.
Thank you to all those who came along and connected. Enjoy a few photos from the day below.
Ngā mihi
Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust
