Lighthouses of New Zealand

Maritime New Zealand owns and maintains the lighthouses and beacons that are outside harbour limits in New Zealand. Those within harbour limits are controlled by local authorities. Ultimate responsibility for all maritime navigation aids in New Zealand lies with Maritime New Zealand.

There are three categories of lighthouses used around New Zealand:

• Landfall lights – the first to be seen by a ship approaching the New Zealand coast
• Coastal lights – used mainly for fixing and confirming a vessel's position along the coastline
• Harbour lights – guide vessels into port.

Maritime New Zealand has 23 lighthouses and 75 lightbeacons. A lightbeacon is a small low-range light. Harbour authorities also have lighthouses and lightbeacons.

Map of all our lights and beacons around New Zealand [PDF: 220Kb, 1 page]

Lighthouse profiles

Read historical and technical information about each of Maritime New Zealand's 23 lighthouses.

1. Cape Reinga
2. Mokohinau Island
3. Cuvier Island
4. Tiritiri Matangi
5. East Cape
6. Cape Egmont
7. Castle Point
8. Cape Palliser
9. Baring Head
10. Brothers Island
11. French Pass
12. Stephens Island
13. Farewell Spit
14. Kahurangi Point
15. Cape Campbell
16. Cape Foulwind
17. Tuhawaiki Point
18. Katiki Point
19. Nugget Point
20. Waipapa Point
21. Dog Island
22. Centre Island
23. Puysegur Point