Kaipara North Head (1884)
During the late 1800's the New Zealand native tree Kauri was in high demand as a construction timber. Kaipara Harbour during those years was the biggest timber exporting port in the country, but by 1880 over 17 vessels had wrecked on sand bars at the harbour entrance so a lighthouse was required.
In 1878 Captain Robert Johnson master of the Stella surveyed the harbour and selected a site next to the Pouta river mouth.
Built in 1884, the timber lighthouse and it's keepers fought a constant battle with the shifting sands known throughout the area.
Kaipara was the first lighthouse to have two keepers in residence.
After the timber trade declined in the late 1940's the light was no longer required and was decommissioned in 1957. It is now a historic site.
http://www.historic.org.nz/nzprops.htm
If anyone has any information on this light please contact me. kiwimark@comcast.net
DIRECTIONS:
Organized tours of the lighthouse and surrounding area are offered by: Taylor made Tours, Coles Road, R.D. 1, Te Kopuru, Northland. Ph +64 9 439-1576.
Alternately from Dargaville you can drive 45 minutes south on Puoto Road to Pouto, then a 30 minute walk along the beach to the lighthouse.
| Island | North |
| Province | Northland |
| Location | Kaipara Harbour |
| Number | |
| Date Commissioned | 1884 |
| Date Decommissioned | 1957 |
| Automated | |
| Latitude | |
| Longitude | |
| Elevation Above Sea Level | 278' |
| Height | 44' |
| Character | |
| Range | 23 miles |
| Made | |
| Construction | Wooden |
| Converted Kerosene To Diesel | |
| Converted Diesel To Mains Electricity | |
| Wattage | |
| Present Tower | Not in use |
| Authority | |
| Date Visited |
| Head Keeper | From | To |
| Assistant Keeper (1st) | From | To |
Text and photographs. Copyright © 1999-2005 Mark Phillips. All rights reserved.