Artificial light at night causes predator declines in invertebrate communities
Cieraad and Farnworth 2026
Overall, our findings strongly reiterate that protecting dark places is
vital to maintain balanced trophic guilds and species interactions upon
which ecosystem functions depend.
This nationally representative study exploring public perceptions of both artificial light and natural darkness at night is the first of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand, and possibly globally.
Ministry for Environment
Light, odour and noise pollution can be a major nuisance, cause risks to health and reduce quality of life. P.24
L Sterup, Victoria University 2024
The lunar cycle is an important environmental cue for biological activity across many taxa, including reproduction, migration, and feeding. In coastal ecosystems, marine life may be threatened by changes to the nocturnal light regime caused by artificial light at night (ALAN).
NIWA – Prepared for Ministry for the Environment May 2024
Ecological impacts of light pollution are generally consistent but will vary depending on the light sensitivity, behaviour and lifecycle of the focal organism, with potentially complex impacts across ecosystems due to species interactions. While there is good international understanding of the ecological impacts of light pollution on a range of species and ecosystems, more limited New Zealand specific research has been undertaken, with none for marine mammals and herpetofauna. Similarly, the recent and ongoing global conversion of outdoor lights to LEDs and associated shift in lighting spectra is a comparatively new research area.
New Zealand Journal of Ecology 2023
At ALAN’s current rate of increase, Aotearoa New Zealand is in danger of losing its cloak of darkness, resulting in increased negative environmental impacts. Greater awareness and targeted ecological research are proposed to stimulate change towards minimising ALAN and mitigating the impacts of light emitted into the nocturnal environment.
Artificial light at night (ALAN), which can confuse and distract insects, has been implicated as a contributor of their decline worldwide. Changes in artificial light technology has led to a widespread conversion of outdoor lighting to light‐emitting diode (LED) bulbs, which are more energy efficient than older high‐intensity discharge or fluorescent lamps. However, many outdoor LED lights emit a proportion of short‐wavelength blue light, to which insects are commonly sensitive.
Why New Zealand needs a law to
reduce light pollution and promote dark skies.
John Hearnshaw 2023
This paper makes the case for New Zealand to introduce national legislation to reduce light pollution and promote dark skies.
This version was submitted to the Petitions Committee of the New Zealand Parliament to accompany the Petition John made in January 2023 ‘New Zealand Needs a National Law to Limit Light Pollution and Promote Dark Skies’
To effectively reduce the risk of light-induced vessel strikes of seabirds, commercial fishing vessels need to use a combination of different light mitigation practices that best address the risks and needs of their individual operations.
NZ Journal of Zoology 2023.
Bat detection rates were significantly lower on lit nights compared to unlit nights at the treatment site, while there was no significant difference at the control site for the same period.
These results indicate that ALAN may have a negative effect on the behaviour of long-tailed bats, potentially delaying the use of areas and excluding them from foraging habitat.
Birds of New Zealand, Journal 2023.
In conclusion, our results show that a large majority of grounded seabird deaths were due to injuries associated with collisions. Many of these seabirds were healthy outside of collision injuries, suggesting that collisions with anthropogenic structures due to disorientation from light pollution are an important source of mortality.
How to measure light pollution—A systematic review of methods and applications
Massey University, University of Waikato 2023
This paper collates multi-disciplinary knowledge on measuring light pollution through a systematic review of 140 articles.
School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland 2022
Our study suggests light pollution predicts groundings in specific locations, suggesting modifications to the lighting of specific structures and buildings could make a strong and positive improvement in avoiding bird collisions.
Estimating Exposure of Vulnerable Seabird Populations to Offshore Light Pollution
Department of Conservation 2022
Many seabird species are active during the night and artificial light from sources such as fishing vessels have been shown to affect their survival. We use information from light-level loggers (GLS) to estimate the location and frequency of these events among a variety of species native to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. 2020
Ministry for Environment
Night skies and light pollution P57
There is increasing awareness of the importance of night skies, alongside growing recognition that this resource is being compromised by light pollution from human activities. Naturally dark night skies are important for multiple reasons, including:
Artificial Night Sky Brightness
Stats NZ 2018
Stars, planets, the moon, and the Milky Way are the most prominent features of the night sky, but light pollution (artificial light scattered in the atmosphere) can obscure our view of these objects. At times the night sky can be completely shrouded, especially in and near cities, but even areas far from human-made light sources can be affected.
We present data measuring artificial light pollution and the visibility of night skies across the country.
Royal Society Te Aparangi 2018
Did you know the amount of blue light you are exposed to can affect your health, environment and viewing stars like matariki?
LED lighting increases the ecological impact of light pollution irrespective of color temperature
Ecological Applications 2014
Recognition of the extent and magnitude of night-time light pollution impacts on natural ecosystems is increasing, with pervasive effects observed in both nocturnal and diurnal species. Municipal and industrial lighting is on the cusp of a step change where energy-efficient lighting technology is driving a shift from ”yellow” high-pressure sodium vapor lamps (HPS) to new ”white” light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 amended 2025
Department of Conservation
Policy 13 Preservation of natural character
(1) To preserve the natural character of the coastal environment and to protect it from inappropriate subdivision, use, and development:
(2) Recognise that natural character is not the same as natural features and landscapes or amenity values and may include matters such as:
(a) natural elements, processes and patterns;
(e) the natural darkness of the night sky;
