Location: 41°25′ S, 174°52′ E
Elevation: 87 metres above sea level
Construction: concrete tower
Tower height: 12.2 metres
Light configuration: flashing LED beacon
Light flash character: white oscillating light on for 9 seconds then off for 6 seconds
Power source: mains electricity
Range: 10 nautical miles (18 kilometres)
Date light first lit: 1935
Automated: 1989
Demanned: 1989
In 1932 it was decided to build a new lighthouse at Baring Head to serve both as an approach light to Wellington Harbour and as a coastal light for Cook Strait.
Work commenced on the buildings, the lighthouse and radio beacon towers in 1934, and the light was first lit in June 1935. The old Pencarrow light was extinguished when the Baring Head light started operating.
Baring Head was the first manned light to be built in New Zealand for 22 years. The lights built between 1913 and 1935 were all unmanned. It was also the first light in New Zealand to start operating on electricity, initially supplied by diesel generators until mains electricity arrived in 1950.
10 June 1935 – Some close-up views at Baring Head, where the new light will replace Pencarrow next Monday, June 17: 1 – Baring Head Lighthouse, 2 – Automatic switchboards in the power house, 3 – Some of the 56 storage batteries which supply power direct to the light and the dwellings, 4 – Mr RS Wilson (left), principal keeper and his assistant, Mr T Harte, with their wives and the assistant's son, David Harte, 5 – The main and reserve lamps, 6 – Interior of the powerhouse, which is equipped with Diesel engines. Photo: Evening Post. Alexander Turnbull Library.
“Though it will be some weeks before certain equipment arrives from England, a commencement has been made with the erection of masts for the radio direction guidance of shipping in Cook Strait. In addition to the Baring Head station (above), equipment will be installed at Cape Campbell and Stephen [sic] Island.” Evening Post, 19 May 1937
“New radio beacon at Baring Head officially opened. The first automatic radio direction finding beacon for shipping off the New Zealand coast was officially opened by the Minister of Marine, the Hon P Fraser, last Thursday. The transmitting station, which appears in the photograph, is near the Baring Head lighthouse. The next Wellington radio beacons are to be installed at Cape Campbell and Stephen’s Island.” Weekly News, 20 Oct 1937. Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries
Radio beacon transmitter at Baring Head. A note on the back of the photo says the transmitter was moved from Stephens Island. Courtesy: Chris Underwood