KEY POINTS:
New Zealand is pushing forward with its bid to make Tekapo the world's first night sky reserve.
Former cabinet minister Margaret Austin, who is chairwoman of New Zealand's Starlight Reserve committee, has been in Paris attending the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) meeting.
Ms Austin said she made the Starlight Reserve bid - one of eight world-wide night heritage site bids - on behalf of New Zealand and the Mackenzie district's Dark Sky bid.
The bid is to preserve the dark night sky for the Mt John observatory above Lake Tekapo.
Half of the people around the world could not see the stars because of night light pollution, she said
"I was well received in Paris this week and introduced a different dimension with references to the significance of the cultural heritage and Pacific people's knowledge of the stars and how life was regulated and revolved around them," Ms Austin said.
She was returning to New Zealand on Thursday to prepare a case study before reporting to Unesco again in April.
"Two working parties of experts have been set up: one to look at monuments related to astronomy and the other on starlight reserves.
"They will define the values, set the criteria which would include the landscape, sky-scape, the clarity of the night sky, aspects of culture both tangible and intangible. About eight case studies will be included of which Tekapo will be one," Ms Austin said.
The starlight bid required commitment from the New Zealand government, she said.
Mt John above the Tekapo township was considered the most accessible observatory in the world, Ms Austin said.
The bid comes during the 2009 International Year of Astronomy.
Starlight Reserve committee spokesman Graeme Murray said many places overseas had lost touch with stars but the Mackenzie Country still had a pristine dark sky.
The reserve would ensure New Zealand was kept on the astronomy and astro-tourism map.
"We want to better protect one of the Mackenzie's most valuable assets, its dark, starry sky," Mr Murray said.
The working party was expected to report back in April 2010.
- NZPA
