WellingtonNZ has partnered with Hari Mogoşanu and Sam Leske of Milky-Way.Kiwi to offer a unique opportunity for local businesses to leverage the Wairarapa region’s newly accredited Dark Sky Reserve. This collaboration aims to enhance local tourism and economic development through the “Dark Skies Business Capability Course,” a pilot program running from July to September.
The course includes theory sessions, practical stargazing at Star Safari, and individual business site assessments. It will teach businesses how to incorporate dark sky elements, like optimal lighting and telescope positioning, into their offerings.
Hari and Sam, who run Star Safari in Carterton, bring extensive expertise, with backgrounds in astrobiology and astrophysics. Their business also promotes night sky education across New Zealand and has strong connections with NASA.
The initiative supports the Regional Economic Development Plan and aims to replicate the success of other dark sky reserves by attracting tourists and boosting local spending. The course costs $75 per participant, with funding from WellingtonNZ.