East Cape Lighthouse
Encyclopedia
East Cape Lighthouse is a lighthouse
sited on Otiki Hill above East Cape
, the easternmost point on the North Island
of New Zealand
. It is owned and operated by Maritime New Zealand
. The lighthouse was originally constructed on nearby East Island
. However the island was difficult to access (four men died during tower construction when their boat capsized) and proved to be susceptible to earthquake
s and subsequent landslips
. In 1920 a decision was made to relocate the light to the mainland and in April 1922, the light was extinguished and then relit at its current location in December of that year. Originally manned by three lighthouse keepers, the light's staffing was progressively reduced until it was fully automated in 1985. It is now controlled from the Maritime New Zealand headquarters in Wellington
. While the area around the light is accessible by foot, the lighthouse itself is not open to the public.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
sited on Otiki Hill above East Cape
East Cape
East Cape is the easternmost point of the main islands of New Zealand. It is located to the north of Gisborne in the northeast of the North Island....
, the easternmost point on the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is owned and operated by Maritime New Zealand
Maritime New Zealand
Maritime New Zealand is a Crown entity responsible for protecting the maritime environment within New Zealand and maintaining safety and security....
. The lighthouse was originally constructed on nearby East Island
East Island/Whangaokeno
East Island/Whangaokeno is a small island approximately east of East Cape in the North Island of New Zealand. Reaching an elevation of , it was the original location for the East Cape Lighthouse, which was built in 1900. However, the island is prone to earthquakes and its steep cliffs cause...
. However the island was difficult to access (four men died during tower construction when their boat capsized) and proved to be susceptible to earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s and subsequent landslips
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
. In 1920 a decision was made to relocate the light to the mainland and in April 1922, the light was extinguished and then relit at its current location in December of that year. Originally manned by three lighthouse keepers, the light's staffing was progressively reduced until it was fully automated in 1985. It is now controlled from the Maritime New Zealand headquarters in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
. While the area around the light is accessible by foot, the lighthouse itself is not open to the public.