Tekapo is looking to the stars for its future - it could become the first world heritage starlight reserve.
Unesco has given conditional approval to the Mackenzie Basin being a pilot study for a starlight reserve, which would coincide with the International Year of Astronomy.
That has prompted other countries to sit up and take notice.
For example, Scotland is looking at "dark-sky parks" in its Highlands to endorse the country as the No 1 destination for stargazers.
Scotland's night skies are considered to be among the best in the world and both science and tourism experts believe rural areas could benefit from the planned initiatives to introduce stressed-out city dwellers to stargazing.
Graeme Murray, of Tekapo, is part of the group driving the idea of a starlight reserve in the Tekapo region.
He not only thinks it is vital to protect the area's "dark sky", but also sees major economic benefits for the region in terms of enhancing and extending tourism.
The former chairman of the Mackenzie Tourism and Development Board and director of Tekapo ecotourism company Earth and Sky, which provides guided stargazing tours, has been worried that Tekapo's renowned "dark sky" is in jeopardy.
The Mackenzie night sky is of "significantly high scientific value" and long been regarded as a Mecca for astronomers and stargazers alike.
The idea of protecting its night sky was prompted by concerns the neighbouring Mt John Observatory may have a future of only 10 to 15 years because the pressure of development might cause light and air pollution.
"Lake Tekapo is an area which is attracting considerable interest and much development," he said.
The observatory's science projects are special and a valuable ecotourist attraction, but interest is so great the number of visitors had to be limited some nights.
Already the Mackenzie District Council has moved to protect the area from air and light pollution.
The council has put in place most of the regulatory ordinances required for a starlight reserve.
All Tekapo street lights are sodium and shielded from above to reduce the glow and all household lights must face down, not up.
This in turn encouraged the responsible use of electricity and avoidance of energy waste.
The New Zealand Transport Agency has installed special lighting along SH8 through Tekapo to reduce the glare.
The draft proposal is for the starlight reserve to cover Tekapo and its Mt John observatory, up Lake Tekapo to the Mt Cook National Park (including Mt Cook) and back across Glentanner to Tekapo.
Twizel and Omarama have also expressed an interest in being involved.
When the idea first become public there was concern from some sectors that it could restrict or hamper future development in the region.
Mr Murray put this down to a perceived lack of consultation.
"But because everything was so vague early on we were not quite ready for that process," he said.
That has been overcome recently with a public meeting to discuss the idea of the starlight reserve and any implications.
Residents now seemed intrigued, enthusiastic and supportive.
In October last year, Unesco drew up a concept for starlight reserves.
That followed a Starlight Conference in La Palma in April last year.
The concept recognised that the preservation of "dark skies" was important.
The October working meeting came up with a plan of action for starlight reserves that included:
• Identifying different categories of areas, reserves and properties;
• Establishing general technical recommendations for protection;
• Integrating the concept to different World Heritage programmes; and
• Evaluating the possibility of nominations of starlight reserves on the World Heritage list.
The result is a wide-ranging draft that explores opportunities to protect areas of the sky, along with technical recommendations on how that should be done to qualify for special status.
The draft also identifies the tourism possibilities by developing specific products based around the protected areas, at the same time emphasising these should not jeopardise the "dark sky" quality.
Various types of starlight reserves were identified and defined in the draft concept - Starlight Heritage Sites, Starlight Astronomy Sites, Starlight Natural Sites, Starlight Landscaped, Starlight Oases - human habitats and Mixed Starlight Sites.
An action plan would be developed for each starlight reserve which would contain the commitments to defend the night sky and right to starlight.
Objectives would be outlined and programmes put in place to meet those commitments.
Action plans could cover:
• Culture and education;
• Astronomical observation;
• Environment and biodiversity conservation;
• Intelligent lighting and light pollution; and
• Sustainable tourism and starry skies.
All of that would involvement a joint public and private commitment supported through laws, bylaws, resource management plans or public-private agreements.
