The seaside Christchurch suburb of Sumner is divided over lighting installed on a mast that has stood on top of Cave Rock since 1864.
The solar-powered lights were installed in December 2021 on the former signal station mast and currently operate until 11pm daily.
Some residents have raised issue with the brightness, frequency, and configuration of the lighting, prompting the Christchurch City Council to launch a survey to see how many are opposed to it.
Norm Eade, who runs the Cave Rock Guesthouse across the road, told 1News he liked the light.
“I feel quite warm when I see it at night when I go to bed, open the curtains up, and its right outside my door.”
A group called the Sumner Dippers, who swim at the beach every morning, helped raised money to install the lights.
One of their members, Bee Ruder, said they felt strongly about the lights as it was a “guiding light” to bring them home to Sumner.
Another member Anna Guy said: “This didn’t fall over in the earthquake, it’s wonderful.”
Topsy Rule, 89, remembered the mast being lit up in 1945 to mark the end of World War II.
Sumner had been under a blackout notice and the mast’s illumination was “so exciting”, she said.
“It was better than a birthday party,” she said, adding that she loved knowing the mast was bathed in light once again.
However, other Sumner residents like Andrew Docking disagree.
“I don’t like them at all, they’re bright and they’re horrible,” he said.
“It looks like Vegas, you want to go to Vegas and get married under something really tacky? Come to Sumner, stand under that rock and do your wedding vows.”
Maurice Ward, who looks down on Cave Rock from his home on Clifton Hill, said it ought not to be in the shape of a Christian cross.
“Now it represents the views of one religious group and not all of the community.”
The survey closes on May 28.
