The Cave Rock mast lights have been enjoyed by many, but not everyone in Sumner is impressed. So why are some residents complaining?
The lights, installed in December 2021 on the former signal station mast, currently operate from dusk until 11pm daily, with exceptions during Matariki or when a request is made for them to be temporarily turned off.
Some residents have raised concerns about the brightness, frequency, and configuration of the lighting, and the board is now inviting the community to have their say.
The Board is interested in hearing views on whether the current daily lighting hours are appropriate and the level of support for how frequently the lights are used.
Concerns have previously been raised in 2022 by local residents Angela Woodward and John Lewis.
Woodward, who had lived in Sumner for 13 years, said there was a lack of adequate community consultation before the licence for the lights was approved. She also criticised the current configuration, describing it as resembling a Christian cross rather than aligning with the original signal mast contours.
“This is not appropriate for a public, secular landmark,” she said. “Sumner is a multicultural community, including people of different faiths and people who do not hold to a particular faith. Some in the community have accepted the configuration, but others are deeply upset by its symbolism.”
She also argued that the lights should not be illuminated every night, pointing to light pollution and the loss of natural coastal views. She called for lighting to be limited to major celebratory events, as was historically the case when the mast was lit only at Easter, Christmas, Anzac Day, and other significant national occasions.
John Lewis echoed similar concerns in his submission, questioning whether the current design was the result of historical precedent or a political and religious agenda. He noted that the trust managing the lights includes advancing Christianity in its stated purpose and that one of the project’s main advocates had previously stood for a far-right political party.
“To use the historical relevance as the reason for the cross to exist today, why then is the cross not honouring its history and being illuminated only at Christmas and Easter?” he asked.
First erected in 1864 to guide ships entering the Avon Heathcote Estuary, the Cave Rock mast has long been a significant feature of the Sumner coastline. It was first illuminated in 1937 to mark the coronation of King George VI with more than 500 bulbs and became a symbol during major holidays and civic events.
The mast sustained damage during the Christchurch earthquakes, with repairs completed in 2016. In 2020, a new agreement between Christchurch City Council and the Breakfree Foundation allowed for the installation of solar-powered lights, which became operational in 2021 following community fundraising.
Public submissions are open until Wednesday, 28 May 2025.
Residents can have their say via the Christchurch City Council’s consultation platform at:
