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History of New Zealand Lighthouses and their keepers

Read about New Zealand’s lighthouse history from 1859, technological changes, and the role and life of the keepers who operated and maintained the lights. 

History of lighthouses in New Zealand

New Zealand’s first lighthouse 

Built in 1859, Pencarrow Head Lighthouse, near Wellington is the oldest lighthouse in New Zealand. It was also the only lighthouse in New Zealand that ever had a woman as lighthouse keeper. 

Early lighthouse lights and lamps 

The first locally built lighthouses had fixed lights that did not flash. These could be easily confused with other lights along the shoreline and were eventually phased out. 

The first lights were fuelled by colza oil, a derivative of the rape plant. Colza oil was later replaced by cheaper paraffin oil. These early lamps had a long wick which needed extra trimming throughout the night to keep the light burning bright and clear. 

 

Clockwork-controlled revolving lights 

Revolving lenses driven by a clockwork mechanism replaced the fixed lights. A lens revolved around a single lamp, which gave the effect of a flashing light. The mechanism was driven by weights suspended down the tower shaft. One of the keeper’s most important jobs was to wind up this mechanism. If the light stopped revolving, it could cause as much confusion as if the light was out altogether. 

 

Revolving lights and mercury-float revolving lenses 

In 1865, the first revolving light was installed at Dog Island Lighthouse. The light used 16 small oil lamps, each with its own lens. It was an early version of today’s electronically-driven revolving lenses. 

Early lighthouse lenses often weighed several tons, so they needed a strong mechanism and system of wheels or ball bearings to keep them moving. This limited the size of the lantern and reduced the power and speed of the light. 

 

Kerosene-fuelled lamps introduced 

In the 1900s, incandescent kerosene burners were introduced. They produced a brighter, more economical light and did not need wick trimming. Most kerosene‑fuelled lamps remained in use until about the 1950s, when lighthouses were gradually converted to electricity. 

Electrification and the move to automation 

By the 1950s, all New Zealand lighthouses were converted to electricity, which sped up the move to automatic lights. 

A typical New Zealand lighthouse has a lens revolving around a 1000-watt bulb. Most lenses are made up of sections that magnify the light into beams. Lights are automatically switched on by a photoelectric daylight sensor. The sensor sends 12 volts of power to the lighthouse from mains electricity, a diesel generator, or solar power. Most of the lights now operate on batteries charged by solar power.  

 

Remote monitoring of lighthouses and beacons 

Maritime NZ monitors the main lights and beacons around New Zealand.  

When something unusual happens, such as a light failing to come on at night, a battery getting too low or a door opening, the monitoring system sends alerts via email and text messages to Maritime NZ’s Aids to Navigation team.  

Maintenance of lights and lighthouses 

Maritime NZ carries out annual maintenance visits to all of our “aids to navigation” during the summer months. Many sites are also visited six months later for minor maintenance and integrity checks. 

Maintenance ranges from beacon and power system checks and structure reviews, through to general property maintenance. 

Maritime NZ also typically has one or two major specialised projects associated with our 23 classic lighthouses. 

 

Lighthouse keepers and their families 

Before electricity, most lighthouse stations had two or three lighthouse keepers.  Working in shifts to keep the light going all day and night, keepers were effectively on call at all times. They could not leave the lighthouse for more than a few hours, unless they were on leave.

 

Keeper duties 

Before electricity, keepers were responsible for: 

  • trimming the wick of the oil lamp 

  • polishing the lenses 

  • winding the revolving mechanism every hour or two to keep the light turning. 

 After electrification in the 1950s, winding and trimming of the lights were no longer required and night watches ended. Keepers still had other duties, such as sending weather reports by radio. 

Every two years keepers were rotated around lighthouse stations. This meant they all spent time at the more isolated and exposed lighthouses, as well as the more popular ones. Rotation also allowed keepers to progress from assistant keeper to principal keeper and helped prevent friction building up between families at the lighthouses. 

 

Requirements to become a lighthouse keeper  

Keepers entering the lighthouse service had to meet strict requirements. They needed to: 

  • be men 

  • be aged between 21 and 31 

  • have a good character 

  • hold a certificate from school stating their ability to read, write and have a “fair” knowledge of arithmetic. 

While single men could apply for positions as relieving keepers, they needed to be married before being appointed to a permanent station. 
As mentioned above, there was only ever one woman lighthouse keeper in New Zealand. 
Lighthouse keepers were expected to be: “sober and industrious, cleanly in their persons and habits and orderly in their families. Any flagrant immorality will subject them to immediate dismissal.” 
Over the years these requirements changed little. The final edition of the Lighthouse Keepers' Handbook stated that keepers were to be men aged between 24 and 40 years, with at least two years secondary education and above-average handyman abilities.
An 1886 publication called Instructions to Lighthouse Keepers outlined what was expected of lighthouse keepers at work and in the running of their home. 
“Keepers must pay for excessive use of coal. Interior of houses will be painted French Grey. Chair legs must not be cut down. This is an improper practice and must be discontinued.” 
The keeper’s job was not a comfortable one. They were expected to remain awake on duty with only a hard, straight-backed chair to sit on in the light room. Peculiarly, the light that could be seen for miles by seafarers was only just bright enough to read a book by inside the light room. 

 

Life for keeper’s wives 

Wives of lighthouse keepers paid a hard price on isolated lighthouse stations. They worked just as hard as their husbands. Often, they had to endure difficult living conditions, harsh weather and poor health with no accessible medical help. In many instances, they also had to cope with the loss of a child or children following illness or accident. 

Accidents were common due to the dangerous terrain surrounding the lighthouses. Many were perched on top of cliffs. Most keepers had small children and it could take weeks for help to arrive, often too late.