Christchurch City Council staff have ignored overwhelming public support for keeping the Cave Rock mast lights as they are, presenting a report that sidelines the majority of submitters.
In May, the Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board asked the public to share their views on how the lights should be managed.
Public consultation drew 938 individual submissions and three from businesses.
When asked about light frequency, 788 (or 84 percent) supported the current daily settings (except during Matariki week), with 155 opposed.
On operating hours, 683 (or 72 percent) supported the existing daily times of dusk until 11pm, 142 wanted shorter hours, and 118 wanted an extension.
Despite those results, staff ruled out the “do nothing” option, even though it directly reflected what most people wanted.
Instead, they tabled three alternatives, which will be presented to the community board on Thursday.
The staff’s preferred option is to reduce hours, 5pm to 9pm in winter and 8pm to 11pm in summer, while altering the configuration to emphasise the maritime mast.
Graphic: Christchurch City Council
A second option would fully light the mast with extra horizontal and vertical fixtures at a cost of up to $16,500. A third would slash the frequency back to pre-2010 timings such as Easter, ANZAC Day, King’s Birthday, half-mast flag days, and funerals for specific service members.
In a contradictory admission, the report said “most submitters were in support of keeping the current operating hours and frequency” but also justified excluding that option by pointing to “a considerable number of people who were not.”
It further warned that whatever changes are made, “portions of the community… may view their concerns have not been addressed,” resulting in “further deputations and media attention.”
In the lead-up to consultation, engagement with Breakfree Foundation, the Sumner Community Residents Association, and the Sumner-Redcliffs Historical Society started in November 2024, and included meetings, phone conversations, and emails.
A resident, who received a briefing from council staff ahead of the report’s release, and asked not to be named, told Chris Lynch Media the process was a “sham” with “staff pushing their own ideological agenda.”
“When we questioned how they (staff) reached a conclusion that went against the principles of democracy, they did not like it at all,” the resident said.
“It feels as though they are taking satisfaction in changing something that does not need changing, almost as if they take pleasure in going against the wishes of the people.”
The mast was lit for the first time to mark the coronation of King George VI in May, 1937. More than 500 bulbs were lit, including those along the foreshore and pier.
In a public report, submitter Paul Strangwick said “I don’t want to see this cross lit up AT ALL. It’s a religious symbol and in fact religion be stealth and operated and fund raised by a Christian organisation.
“It’s a damn cross. Let’s not pretend this is a mast. Sumner is a secular community and this is deeply offensive to non Christians. I couldn’t feel more strongly about this and have been upset about it since it was illuminated. Also, we’re local iwi consulted? This also light pollution. Get rid the cross!!!! I also don’t feel there was enough community consultation when first erected. I am FURIOUS about it.”
Consultation was carried out with Mahaanui Kurataio Limited in 2020 and Mahaanui Kurataio Limited confirmed that the Tūāhuriri rūnanga do not have any concerns about the Cave Rock lights.
Kamala Roberts was also mad “Personally, the sight of the mast lit up like a religious cross, fills me with a sense of dread and deep-seated unease every time I see it lit up at night. I find it both visually distasteful and culturally inappropriate.”
However, Gayle and Norman Eade who own Cave Rock Guest House said “There is nothing nicer than rounding the bend by Shag Rock corner coming into sumner and seeing Cave Rock lit up- it’s magical.
“As we live opposite the Rock and have guests staying, we have such positive comments from everyone, I would hate for anything to change. I can’t see who would be affected by the brightness, and as for the cross I don’t think religion really comes into it, it was a lifeboat control tower and I hope it stays for many years to come.
“As an accommodation business we have had guests from many countries and have only had positive comments about the ambience the lights provide. I’ve got Muslim mates that see the light for what it is a navigation light with post European history.”
First established in 1864 to guide boats over the Sumner bar into the Avon and Heathcote Rivers, it has been lit on and off for more than a century. The current lights, installed in 2021 under a private deed, are maintained at no cost to the Council.
