World Hertiage StarLight Reserve Bid Gets Underway

12/07/07

A ‘world first’ initiative to establish a Lake Tekapo / Aoraki Mount Cook World Heritage StarLight Reserve by 2009, to coincide with the International Year of Astronomy, is well underway.

Helping lead the campaign is Graeme Murray of Earth and Sky, which operates stargazing tours at the Mount John Observatory, Lake Tekapo; renowned for its brilliantly clear night skies.

A StarLight Reserve is a new concept for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). UNESCO’s principle goal is to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural sites around the world, through establishing them as World Heritage areas. “A StarLight Reserve needs to be astronomy based, and with the Mount John Observatory the centre of astronomy research in New Zealand, it is an ideal location,” comments Mr Murray.

Mr Murray began the bid to establish the world’s first World Heritage StarLight Reserve at a convention in Las Palmas, Canary Islands in April 2007. This international convention was sponsored by UNESCO and the Spanish Government. The presentation was made on behalf of the Canterbury University and the Mount John Observatory, the Mackenzie District Council, Earth & Sky and Margaret Austin; former Chair of the National Commission for UNESCO New Zealand. It was positively received and the convention gave its endorsement for the new project.

The 31^st session of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee met in early July at the Christchurch Convention Centre. The New Zealand StarLight committee presented a display and comprehensive brochure at the conference, of which 650 international delegates attended. A proposal was circulated by UNESCO that Lake Tekapo be considered the “pilot” study for this unique, World Heritage category.

On the completion of the World Heritage conference, representatives from UNESCO were hosted at Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook for three days. The selected

VIPs’ included Dr Thomas Schaaf, Director of the UNESCO Man of the Biosphere, Dr Merchtild Rossler, Manager of World Heritage in Paris and Miss Kate Barker from the New Zealand UNESCO Commission in Wellington. The Director of World Heritage, Mr Francisco Bandarin unfortunately had to withdraw because of an illness.

The next stage of the process involves close consultation with the Department of Conservation and Local Government in preparing a final submission to UNESCO for consideration at the 2008 Committee Meeting in Canada. If successful, the New Zealand initiative would be announced to coincide with the International Year of Astronomy in 2009 (400 years since Galileo looked through the world’s first telescope).

Graeme Murray is optimistic about the exciting journey ahead. The new concept has caught the imagination of people both in New Zealand and around the world. Support or questions can be emailed to: info@starlightreserve2009.co.nz.

Pictured above: The UNESCO delegates at the Mount John Observatory in Lake Tekapo with Graeme Murray and his wife Carolyn Murray, representing Earth and Sky, a NZ UNESCO representative and a Professor from the University of Canterbury.

L to R: Dr Thomas Schaaf - Director, Man of the Biosphere program UNESCO Paris; Miss Kate Barker - NZ UNESCO Commission; Professor John Hearnshaw - Director of Canterbury University's Mount John Observatory; Graeme Murray - Director of Earth & Sky Ltd; Dr Merchtild Rossler - World Heritage Paris; Carolyn Murray - Direct Earth & Sky Ltd; John Hearnshaw - Superintendent Mount John Observatory; Vickie Hearnshaw - Research Officer.