Oxford gains Dark Sky title, wonders what is next

Recently, 11,350 hectares of the Oxford Forest Conservation area was recognised as a Dark Sky Park. This accreditation was awarded by DarkSky International, which is active in 22 countries across the world.  

To achieve an accreditation, the Oxford Dark Sky Society had to record a minimum sky darkness average. They also detailed plans to educate visitors, raise awareness and get the school involved- these are global requirements that exist to encourage community involvement. 

The title means Oxford can expect a boom in tourism as people travel from all over to glimpse the Milky Way. Raul Elias-Drago, from the Oxford Observatory, is spearheading the operation and says that there are plenty of other benefits such as a stronger connection to culture and a haven for animals to live away from artificial light.  

The Society arranged for an independent study on the employment and economic benefits of a Dark Sky zone in the area and found it to be a profitable venture. The findings indicate that Dark Sky tourism could generate $4.6 million of spending across Waimakariri, predicting over 50,000 extra annual visitors.  

Tourism and Hospitality Minister, Matt Doocey, also serves as the Waimakariri MP. He says he is proud of the work the Dark Sky Society has accomplished but believes the Waimakariri night sky is taken for granted.  

“Visitors I have met from places like the UK are amazed by our night skies and it’s something we should be harnessing more as a drawcard for tourists,” said Matt. 

He acknowledges this will put Waimakariri on the map for international and domestic tourism. The Oxford Community Board is also excited, with Chairman Thomas Robson applauding the accreditation.  

“The Committee [society] has worked hard to gain this accreditation and it will benefit Oxford enormously in terms of future conservation efforts and tourism.” 

The Dark Sky Society has now begun working towards a larger initiative- a dark sky trail. This would include multiple dark sky locations across the South Island that visitors can drive between. The report found that this could generate $45 million across the South Island, while noting that most visitors would only travel to one or two sites.  

Matt Doocey would encourage other towns to jump onto the initiative, saying “eco-tourism is a growing sector and here in New Zealand we are well-equipped to service this with our native flora and fauna, as well as our unpolluted night skies.”  

While there is a possibility that multiple dark sky sanctuaries could render Oxford ordinary, Raul is adamant that everyone should experience the benefits. He will be attending the Starlight Conference in October to discuss the possibility of a dark sky nation- New Zealand itself could maintain low levels of artificial light. The Conference is hosted by the Royal Astronomical Society and is based in Tekapo. Raul is excited for the event, as there will be a variety of scientists and Dark Sky enthusiasts attending. He says this is a step in the right direction. 

“Astro tourism is where the economy meets science. Now, we can be the stewards.”