Wakefield the home of NZ's first Dark Skies Park

Ralph Bradley was a 10 year-old in Golden Bay when he went outside in the early hours of a morning with his father, and saw his first Aurora. He's been hooked on the night-sky ever since. Ralph is the driver behind the country's first official international Dark Sky Park, set to open near Nelson this weekend with special star parties. The International Dark Sky Association has just accredited Wai-iti Recreation Reserve and Tunnicliff Forest with the status. Ralph, who's chairman of the Top of the South Dark Sky committee, told our Nelson reporter Tracy Neal he's thrilled the park has received international designation, when his wish had seemed light years away.